Kon'nichiwa Tōkyō!
The camera fades into a sold out Tokyo Dome, over 55,000 fans cheering for the CWF coming to town. A heavy, doomy riff sets in as we pan the crowd, we see a few fanclubs that have managed to get in, we have the Bagheads of the Ataxiarmy, we see a group of Flairheads, the Dorianoholics Anonymous, the Lost Boys Club, and a whole plethora of signs, ranging from “Marry me Mia” over “Billy, you suck!”, “Feel the Payne” and “Take my soul, Shadow!” to a few with a target over a picture of Jay Mora on them. Slowly the camera moves towards the stage, where the trio of musicians that is Ningen-Isu is providing a live rendition of CWF’s Unhinged’s theme song “Namahage”, a demon-like creature from Japanese folklore. As they finish off, the camera moves over to the entrance onto the stage, where two Japanese gentlemen in their finest suits are standing, microphones ready.
Hiro Tamayaki: Kon'nichiwa Tōkyō! Unhinged e yōkoso! Ningen Isu no tame ni ryōte o matomeru!
Noriaki Honda: Kon'ya wa watashitachi no hosuto o kangei shite kudasai! Blake Church soshite Charles State no Church vs. State!
Blake Church and Charles State are coming out from the curtains to a big cheer by the Japanese crowd.
Charles State: Ladies and gentlemen, Minasawa, welcome to Unhinged!
Blake Church: Dono yō ni Tōkyōdesu ka? How are you Tokyo?
The crowd gives another big cheer.
Charles State: Ladies and gentlemen - Hiro Tamayaki - Noriaki Honda!
Big ovations for the Japanese commentator team.
Blake Church: We are proud to be here in Tokyo to bring you Unhinged, the latest pay-per-view of CWF and what a show we have planned here, with every single title this federation has to offer on the line!
Charles State: And on top of that we have the biiiiig main event - 5 wrestlers, 3 cages, 1 briefcase, a recipe for utter mayhem!
Blake Church: Let’s kick things off with a few words from our international friends that have flocked to Tokyo and we even have a few new ones to welcome here! From China, joining us for the first time here at Unhinged - Lin Feng and George Chan!
Lin Feng: Nǐ hǎo zhōngguó, huānyíng lái dào Unhinged! Tā shǐ yú shànghǎi, bìng zài dōngjīng jìxù!
George Chan: Wéixiǎn de dān duìkàng shīluò de línghún jiāng yǒngyuǎn jiějué tāmen de chóuhèn!
Charles State: From the Netherlands: Mike van Heerden and Mark Postma!
Mike van Heerden: Woon vanuit Tokio en verwelkom je in Unhinged!
Mark Postma: Vandaag staat een carrière op het spel! Zal het Billy zijn of zal het Tyler Anderson zijn? We zullen vanavond zien!
Blake Church: Our Russian friends are here as well, Sergey Afinogenov and Ivan Smolov!
Sergey Afinogenov: Dobryy vecher iz Tokio i dobro pozhalovat' na zhestkuyu platu za prosmotr Unhinged!
Ivan Smolov: Eto bitva shef-povarov segodnya vecherom, Attik Reks protiv Ramsey Gordona, ch'ya kukhnya budet gospodstvovat' nad soboy?
Charles State: Also with us for the first time here at Unhinged, directly from Brazil, here are João Esgueirão and Diogo Moura.
João Esgueirão: Bem-vindo ao Japão! Três homens, uma mulher, um campeonato!
Diogo Moura: Christian Starr, Azrael, Impakt, Mia Rayne apenas em Unhinged!
Blake Church: You already met our Japanese hosts, Hiro Tamayaki and Noriaki Honda!
Hiro Tamayaki: Mōichido, Nihon, Unhinged e yōkoso. Sentō-in wa saigomade tatakaimasu.
Noriaki Honda: Jakku kingu ga shēn donoban ni taishite oi no unmei ni fukushū dekimasu ka? Watashitachiha kon'ya o mirudeshou!
Charles State: No title match of the Lost Boys would be complete without the Wallaby Warriors Stevie Illawarra and Lleyton Polkinghorne!
Stevie Illawarra: We prefer Roo Wranglers, to be honest, but anyways, hello Australia, welcome to Unhinged, where the Lost Boys are defending their tag team titles against the Harbingers tonight!
Lleyton Polkinghorne: Yep, the Coalition has broken apart and now both sides will battle it out for the belts and in the end Oz will reign supreme!
Blake Church: All the way from Deutschland, Markus Voglmayr and Reinhard Hansen, guten Abend!
Markus Voglmayr: Oh, someone is learning German! Guten Abend CWF-Fans zuhause, wir sind live in Tokio und Unhinged hat wieder viel zu bieten!
Reinhard Hansen: Dorian Hawkhurst und Ataxia in einem Leitermatch um den Impact-Titel und einen Platz im Käfig im Kampf um den Unhinged Koffer!
Charles State: Bonsoir Yannick Moreau et Pierre Robitaille, straight from Montreal!
Yannick Moreau: Bonsoir et bienvenue au retour de la fierté de Montréal, Jace Valentine.
Pierre Robitaille: Avec Caledonia, il affronte Team Sunset et Team Elisha dans une bataille pour la fédération et l'Institut dans un cadre épique!
Blake Church: And finally our Mexican friends Gabriel Mendoza and Juan Ignacio Cimarron are really excited about the big title match tonight!
Gabriel Mendoza: ¡Si, absolutamente! ¡El verdadero evento principal de Unhinged esta noche - MJ Flair contra Jay "Marksman" Mora!
Juan Ignacio Cimarron: ¡Tokio temblará cuando estos dos titanes se encuentren en un enfrentamiento épico por el campeonato mundial de los pesos pesados!
Charles State: More international than ever this concludes our introductions of all of our commentator teams tonight, what else is there to do before the first match begins, Blake?
Blake Church: I guess there is always something backstage-
Mike Rolash: Uh, guys, didn’t you forget someone?
Charles State: No, I think we got through everyone, but thanks Mike.
Jim Gunt: Hello? Us!
Blake Church: Oh, would you look at that! I guess there are two more gentlemen that seem to be looking for some spotlight, ladies and gentlemen - Mike Rolash and Jim Gunt!
Mike Rolash: Not funny, guys!
Jim Gunt: Welcome to Unhinged, the latest CWF PPV and once more it is jam packed with goodies, culminating in the big cage match for the Unhinged Briefcase between Amber Ryan, Nerezza, Duce Jones - or Byson Kaliban, The Shadow and either Dorian Hawkhurst or Ataxia, an epic battle!
Mike Rolash: Very much so, we can see the three cages suspended from the ceiling here and it will be a hot one for sure!
Welcome To My Home
Suddenly the lights flicker and we hear “Die Die Die My Darling” by Metallica start to play and the Japanese crowd stands up. The lights go out and spotlights head up to the top of the rafters. There...wearing a cloak of raven feathers and a top hat long with his usual tuxedo and mask is Ataxia.
Ataxia: KONICHIWAHHHHH!!!!
The Japanese audience, much different than an American one stands in silence as Ataxia smiles down at them.
Ataxia: I want to personally thank each and everyone of you for coming out tonight to see our wonderful company give to you our very best. This is “Unhinged”! Tonight you will see many things. You will see titles defended. You will see grudges settled. You will even see the fate of this company settled in a three way tag team match. Most of all you will see one of five competitors possibly leave with a title shot for The CWF World Heavyweight Title. But from the bottom of my twisted heart and mind...I wanted to say thank you before this got started. You honor us with your presence. We are grateful for the chance to perform for you. And I make a solemn pledge to you tonight...and to the millions watching around the world.
Ataxia pulls off his top hat and poses in a crucifix pose.
Ataxia: I...Ataxia... “The Messiah Pariah”...promise to you all that no matter what happens tonight...My federation will still be standing. For no one can out manipulate the board like I can. This is not the end, but a new beginning...this will be either our darkest hour or our brightest moment, but know this...No one will destroy my home. Not this time. Not without killing me...in...that...very...ring...Enjoy the show...AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHH!!!
Pyro goes off in the rafters as...cherry blossoms rain down from the rafters down towards the ring.
Fade.
Career Match
Billy Anderson
Vs.
Tyler Anderson
Mike Rolash: This maniac had to put his nose into this right away, didn’t he?
Jim Gunt: Well, he has claimed CWF as his own a while ago and looks like he does not want to give it up.
Mike Rolash: Wait until Ryan gets his hands on him, his career will be over!
Jim Gunt: Speaking of careers that will be over, first up we have something that we do not see often these days, a career match.
Mike Rolash: Yes, the Unstoppable Force that had seen its stock plummet since their return and turn into the Stoppable Force, has not so quietly imploded over the last couple of weeks and culminated two weeks ago in Shanghai, when Billy Anderson beat up his younger brother Tyler before the match so bad that he ended up collapsing in the ring.
Jim Gunt: For a while it did not look like our chief of medical staff, Dr. Leggett, would clear Tyler to compete tonight, but he has given the green light and we will be seeing brother versus brother, with the loser having to leave CWF and call his career quits.
Mike Rolash: The money of most people is on Billy to prevail and quite frankly, he may have tenderized his brother enough to almost make this a non-contest. I see that Ray Douglas is ready in the ring, here we go!
Ray Douglas: The first match tonight is a career match between Billy and Tyler Anderson, formerly known as The Unstoppable Force. It is scheduled for one fall, with the stipulation that the loser of the match has to quit his career in CWF and leave the federation. First to the ring, hailing from Rincon, Georgia, USA - TYLER ANDERSOOON!
"See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth hits, and Tyler comes out from the curtains. He still has some bandages around his head, where Billy had busted him open in Shanghai. He walks down the ramp, slapping hands with the fans before sliding into the ring and jumping to his feet. He climbs the turnbuckle and throws his hands up in the air, looking towards the entrance.
Ray Douglas: And his opponent, also hailing from Rincon, Georgia, USA - BILLY ANDERSON!
"Cowboy" by Kid Rock hits and Billy walks down the ramp. He sees a fan with a Billy Anderson sign, takes it from them and rips it up, as the mixed reactions he already had received, turn to boos. He rolls his eyes and laughs as he makes his way to the steel steps. As he gets to the ring, he looks at his brother still standing on the turnbuckle and moves his thumb across his throat to show his intentions for the evening. He climbs up the steps and poses for the fans in the centre as he ignores the boos, soaking in the hate he is getting from the Japanese fans.
Mike Rolash: Looks like the fans have made up their mind which brother they would like to see continue on in CWF!
Jim Gunt: Indeed. So we are ready to go as referee... Wait, where is the referee?
Mike Rolash: I thought something was missing…
Suddenly the lights turn blue with a spotlight on the entrance. “Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold begins to play.
Jim Gunt: But this is the music of Christian Starr! What is happening?
The crowd gives a big cheer when a hulking shape steps through the curtains, dressed in black pants and the black and white striped shirt of a referee, just without sleeves.
Mike Rolash: I can’t believe this! Payne is the guest referee?
Jim Gunt: Must be! He has had his run-ins with the brothers before, so when thinking about it, he is almost some sort of a logical choice in the end!
Ray Douglas: And the special guest referee for tonight - PAYNE!
Payne comes down the ramp with a grim look on his face, while the Andersons look at him and each other, Tyler somewhat hopeful and Billy with a distinctly sour expression. Payne steps over the top ropes and immediately motions the brothers to come to him.
Payne: OK, no funny stuff, you got me? If you try anything stupid, you’ll have to deal with me. If you don’t listen to me when I tell you to let go, you’ll have to deal with me. And trust me, you don’t want that. Are we understood?
Both brothers nod and Payne signals for the bell. Going for a traditional lock up, Billy tries to go on the offense right away, kicking his brother into the stomach, followed by a hard blow to the neck region, sending Tyler to the mat right away. He goes into the ropes and tries to hit his brother with a knee, but Tyler manages to let himself fall to the side and Billy’s knee hits nothing but thin air. Immediately Tyler brings his brother down to the mat with a leg sweep that hits him right behind the right knee.
Jim Gunt: There is no love lost between the two of them for sure, but looks like Tyler is not just going to go down without a fight!
The younger Anderson has Billy’s knee locked into a somewhat odd looking hold, but going with the expression of pain on the older brother’s face, it seems very efficient.
Mike Rolash: Looks like a good tactic to find a weakness and exploit it.
Billy is banging the mat with his fist as he tries to regroup and find a way out of this and slowly inches towards the rope. Using Tyler’s focus on his hold to his advantage, he manages to put his finger tips on the rope and Payne tells Tyler to release the hold.
Jim Gunt: If looks could kill, Tyler Anderson would be dead on the floor right now, Billy did not appreciate being surprised like this!
Getting up without his eyes leaving his brother, Billy charges at Tyler, but his raging bull approach does not pay off, since Tyler is able to sidestep the attack and use Billy’s momentum to send him outside of the ring. Not wasting any time, Tyler climbs the turnbuckles and leaps off with a double-foot stomp to Billy’s knee, making his brother cry out in pain.
ONE!
TWO!
Payne is beginning to count the two brothers out and Tyler rolls himself back in, breaking the count, but he does not make any move to continue to attack his downed sibling.
Mike Rolash: What is he doing? He has the upper hand, he should just continue!
Jim Gunt: I don’t think the Andersons share the same level of morality here, despite everything he went through, I still don’t think that Tyler really wants to hurt his brother.
ONE!
TWO!
Billy is still on the ground, holding his knee.
Payne: Yo, Anderson, you hear me count, right?
With an annoyed look on his face, Billy slowly comes to his feet, holding on to the apron for support.
THREE!
FOUR!
Using the ropes as leverage, Billy pulls himself up onto the edge of the ring and Tyler comes over, yet before he can execute a move, Billy hits him with a hard shoulder to the stomach. As he is doubled over, Billy lands an elbow to Tyler’s face and then pushes him into the ring, allowing him to re-enter. With Tyler still shaking the cobwebs from his brain, Billy launches himself into the ropes and come through with a hard drop kick that sends Tyler into the corner.
Jim Gunt: Looks like Billy is slowly gaining the upper hand in this match.
Mike Rolash: About time, so far he hasn’t shown anything as to why he should be the Anderson continuing on here…
He is not wasting any time and moves right in with hard chops to Tyler’s chest, then whipping him across the ring into the opposite corner, following up with a body splash. As the younger brother slouches down, Billy grabs him by the hair and pulls him back upright, getting a reprimand from Payne. After a knee to the gut, Billy takes Tyler’s head and starts to slam him into the turnbuckle.
ONE!
TWO!
Jim Gunt: Billy should let off, Payne had warned them at the beginning!
THREE!
FOUR!
Mike Rolash: He is not stopping…
FIVE!
With Billy still not letting up, Payne grabs the perpetrator and drags him into the middle of the ring. With both of his hands on Billy’s shoulders, the big man makes his point very clear.
Payne: I said no funny stuff and when I say to let go, you let go! I will not say this another time! I don’t have a problem with just disqualifying you and then having some fun, got it!?!
Billy looks like he is about to say something and push Payne away, but manages to rein in his temper and defiantly nod. Just as the referee is stepping aside to let the brothers have at it again, Tyler comes flying past Payne, taking Billy by complete surprise, knocking him off balance and into the ropes. As he bounces back in, Tyler hits him with a flying DDT that leaves the older Anderson panting on the mat.
Mike Rolash: Wow, I had expected this match to be a wash, but this is actually fun!
Tyler goes down for the count!
ONE!
TW-
KICKOUT!
Jim Gunt: He waited too long to go for the cover, he could have pulled off the ultimate surprise!
Tyler grabs Billy and pulls him back to his feet, whipping him back into the ropes, but Billy ducks under the first clothesline attempt and instead turns around, grabs Tyler and brings him down with a neckbreaker!
Mike Rolash: Ow, he almost took off his head there!
Taking his hair, Billy brings his brother back up and positions him into a side headlock.
Jim Gunt: Oh, I feel a Lunatic Drop coming up!
Just as Jim says the word, Billy drops Tyler down with his patented finisher and goes right for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Ray Douglas: And the winner is….BILLY ANDERSON!!
Jim Gunt: So as most had predicted, Tyler Anderson’s career in CWF is over as Payne lifts his brother’s arm into the- Wait, no!
Billy tears his arm away from Payne and drops down onto his brother again, raining down fists on his head and upper body. Payne is trying to get him to stop, but Billy just swats at his arm.
Mike Rolash: Big mistake…
Payne: I warned you!
Saying this, he grabs Billy and pulls him off his brother. With an enraged look on his face Billy begins to punch Payne, but the big man grabs Billy with ease, lifts him up and throws him out of the ring towards the ramp.
Payne: I suggest you keep on walking!
Billy looks like he is about to come right back into the ring, but seeing Payne getting ready to exit the ring, he decides otherwise and backs up the ramp.
Jim Gunt: So it is decided, Tyler Anderson has lost the career match against his brother Billy and is leaving CWF…
Mike Rolash: Whoa, what is happening there!?!?
Jim Gunt: Freddie Styles is back!!
Freddie Styles is flying down the ramp, barreling into an unsuspecting Billy, who falls down face first. Immediately he jumps back on him, wailing away like there was no tomorrow. Payne, who is just getting out of the ring, rolls his eyes.
Payne: People, can’t you just leave these guys be!?
He walks over and pulls Freddie off Billy, keeping him at arm's’ length.
Payne: Enough! Go see Sunset or Rish or whoever else will own this federation when all of this is over and ask for him. Until then back off or I’ll prepare some scrambled Fred. Understood?
Jim Gunt: Looks like the freshly separated Billy Anderson already found himself a new date for the near future, but I heard that something is happening backstage...
Unexpected Guests
We cut backstage. The camera is at ground level, following three sets of boots as they make their way down the corridor. One pair is bright purple, adorned with the arms of chaos, the golden apple, obscure sigils and phrases. The second are red, covered in sparkling black glitter applied in uneven smudges and mixed with what seems to be chilli sauce. The last pair are jet black, a slim wooden cane by their side.
Suddenly, the boots come to a halt. The camera pans upwards to reveal…
Jim Gunt: Elijah! Omega! And Eris!
Mike Rolash: Oh my!
Tara Robinson bursts into view, out of breath, clearly having rushed her way across the arena. Elijah leans heavily on his cane, wincing a little. Eris, likewise, is clearly in great pain, standing with gritted teeth, a packed backpack on their back. Only Omega seems well, greeting Tara with a playful wave.
Tara Robinson: I came as soon as I heard. You three….you haven't been seen at a CWF event in months. Why here? Why now?
Omega: You think we'd miss a party like this?
Elijah: On this night, the fate of both the Federation and the Institute are to be decided. The page of history is turned. After all that has happened, all we have been through and witnessed - it would be foolishness to stay away.
Tara Robinson: What are your thoughts on the match? How do you see it all going down?
Elijah: This night is built on betrayal after betrayal, alliances within alliances, every side pushed beyond the point of reason or restraint. All that is certain is that nothing is certain.
Tara Robinson: And Eris? How about you?
Eris glances at Tara a moment, their expression one of determination.
Eris: I'm here for Cali. The Institute, Ouroboros, even the Federation itself - they aren't worth a single hair on that woman's head.
Eris nods and walks out of shot, heading for the locker room area without a pause. Elijah and Omega do likewise, leaving Tara alone. She looks to the camera, shrugs.
Tara: Back to ringside, I guess.
Commercial
A young couple is working out on the beach, stretching, jogging, some aerobics. It is a beautiful scene with bright sunshine, lots of cardio and profuse amounts of sweat. The tired-looking man opens a small cooler and pulls out two bottles with a green liquid. They both take a big swig and suddenly they both stand up straight, eyes wide open, a big smile on their faces. "Meowtain Dew - now with extra catnip!"
The Test
We cut backstage to MJ Flair and Caledonia, drinking coffee.
Caledonia: Hey champ, know what passes the Bechdel test?
MJ Flair: This segment!
Battle of the Chefs
Chef Atticus Rex
Vs.
Ramsay Gordon
Jim Gunt: Wow, ladies and gentlemen, Elijah, Omega and Eris are here in Tokyo tonight, we have not seen them around the CWF for months!
Mike Rolash: If we didn’t already know that things are going to be hot later tonight, this just adds fuel to the fire!
Jim Gunt: Not sure, if we will see any fire in this upcoming match, but looks like all that would be missing is some barbecue and some food…
We cut back to the ring, where various kitchen implements can be seen on tables around the ring: frying pans, meat tenderizers, chopping boards, you name it.
Ray Douglas: The following contest is the BATTLE OF THE CHEFS, scheduled for one fall! All the weapons on the tables around the ring are legal for use, and victory is by pinfall or submission.
The arena goes dark, then is lit up in fiery red and orange. “Hotel Hell” by Skyhooks hits as Ramsay Gordon steps onto the rampway. He walks down slowly, removing his black leather jacket (in a chef's style), and throwing it to the ground.
Ray Douglas: Making his way to the ring first, from Hell’s Kitchen - “The Kitchen Nightmare,” RAMSAY GORDON!
As he gets into the ring, he walks into the center. As the chorus of the song hits, a massive burst of pyro explodes from the ring posts, and the lights come back up.
As "We Are Young" by Fun plays Atticus Rex makes his way to the ring wearing a short sleeved black chef coat and a black beanie chef hat.
Ray Douglas: And from Brooklyn - “The Popup Chef,” ATTICUS REX!
Rex removes the coat and hat as he enters the ring to reveal his muscular physique underneath.
Ray Douglas: Wait… I’m getting… hold on, additional stipulation! Both of you must put your jackets BACK ON!
The two men in the ring look confused, but don their chef’s jackets. The bell rings and the match begins.
Jim Gunt: Here we go! Battle of the Chefs, the hellion from Hell’s Kitchen vs the Brooklyn hipster!
Mike Rolash: This battle in the heart of Kitchen Stadium is for the culinary soul of New York City! But how will our contestants deal with the Chairman’s Culinary Curveball?!
Jim Gunt: Wrong show, Mike.
The two lock up, with Atticus Rex gaining a slight advantage in the muscling - but Ramsay Gordon gives him a quick kick to the shins and the Popup Chef staggers backwards. The Kitchen Nightmare launches on an immediate offensive, landing hard lefts and rights and knocking Atticus Rex into the corner! Referee Dean Scott urges Ramsay to back off, and Atticus Rex seizes the opportunity, nailing Ramsay with a clothesline. The Kitchen Nightmare deftly hops back up, but Rex whips him into the corner, charging in with another clothesline and hitting Gordon with Prime Chops!
Jim Gunt: I like my chops medium rare!
Mike Rolash: I’m more of a New York Strip man. But well-done. And covered in ketchup.
Jim Gunt: What kind of monster are you?!
As the Kitchen Nightmare falls to the ground, Atticus considers going for the cover, but instead rolls outside the ring to examine his chef’s implements. He picks up a wooden cutting board, but is surprised to be hit by Ramsay Gordon, flying over the ropes in a Suicide Dive!
The two men lie on the ground, groaning. They each make it to their feet, and select a cooking implement - Rex, his cutting board; Ramsay, an oyster mallet. They charge, with Ramsay bringing the hammer down on Rex’s head. The force of the blow is such that the cutting board is split in two, but Rex is spared the full force of the attack. He is not spared, however, from Ramsay Gordon grabbing two frying pans and whacking him on both ears with them!
Mike Rolash: It’s a Grilled Idiot Sandwich!
Ramsay Gordon rolls Atticus Rex into the ring, and looks around for another weapon to use. His eye is drawn to a large stainless steel wok, which he grabs. He enters the ring and waits for Rex to rise. He makes a massive swing with the wok - but Rex ducks, and the wok belts Dean Scott in the face!
Jim Gunt: Dean Scott might have just lost some teeth!
Mike Rolash: Eh, it’s a Chinese cooking implement, he’ll grow them back again in half an hour.
Jim Gunt:… I don’t know what part of that to correct first.
In the ring, Atticus Rex and Ramsay Gordon are trading punches. Ramsay gains the upper hand, eventually knocking Rex to the ground, where he applies the Boiling Point!
Jim Gunt: Will Atticus Rex tap out?
Mike Rolash: Nah, these reality shows just like to create false drama. It’s all totally scripted.
Jim Gunt: Shut up, Mike.
But Mike is right, and Atticus manages to get a hand on the rope. Ramsay Gordon releases the hold, stomps on the Popup Chef’s back, and exits the ring to collect a heavy cast-iron skillet.
Jim Gunt: What do you think he’s gonna do with that?
Mike Rolash: What do you think, dumbass?
The Kitchen Nightmare re-enters the ring, and stalks Atticus Rex, taunting him to stand back up and preparing the cast-iron skillet. As Rex reaches his feet, Ramsay swings with massive force, clobbering the Popup Chef with the skillet!
Mike Rolash: HEAR THE WHISPERS IN THE DARK!
Ramsay does not go for the cover, instead placing the skillet on the ground and hauling Atticus Rex to his feet. He sets him up for his finisher - LAMB SAUCER ONTO THE SKILLET!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Ray Douglas: Here is your winner - “THE KITCHEN NIGHTMARE” RAMSAY GORDON!
Mike Rolash: Oh no, the chef that can’t cook won! Now who is going to get me the victory feast?
Jim Gunt (discreetly pushing a bowl with what looks like nuts): Here, here’s your feast!
Mike Rolash: Ooh!
He grabs a big handful and shoves it into his mouth. It takes only a few moments before his eyes go wide and he begins to sweat profusely.
Mike Rolash: What-what is this stuff?
Jim Gunt: Oh, just some wasabi peas…
Mike Rolash: You! You!
Without saying anything else we see him run off in search for more water.
Reconnection
We cut backstage. We are in a disused part of the arena, making our way through empty corridors, the lights flickering above, the sound of a tap dripping erratically. We pass through one door after another, finally ending up in an empty locker room. The lockers on the wall are busted and broken, the tiles on the floor are cracked.
Seated in the middle of the room, cross legged, we see Elijah. He wears all black, a red omega symbol on the rest of his chest, a long black cane resting by his side. As we arrive he glances upwards.
Elijah: So. Tonight is the night, as they say.
The camera turns to reveal…
Amber Ryan: Yes.
Elijah: How are you feeling?
Amber: Feelings don't count for shit at this point. I'm ready. So are they. One person's walking out with that briefcase and I'm going to do my damnedest to make sure it's me.
Elijah: I would expect nothing less.
Amber: What about you?
Elijah: In what sense?
Amber: You know damn fucking well what I mean.
Elijah sits in silence a moment.
Amber: No more secrets, no more lies and misdirection. We passed the point for that long ago.
Elijah: We only wished to protect you. Believe me in this if nothing else. You have experienced first hand the cruelty of which the Institute is capable. Can my beloved and I truly be blamed for keeping those we care about as far from its clutches as possible?
Amber: Never said I blamed you. Wouldn't matter if I did. But so far as keeping us safe...didn't exactly work out like that did it?
Elijah: No. And now Caledonia stands against the Institute, divided as it is between the warring factions of Elisha and Ryan.
Amber: Yeah. Alongside Jace…
A momentary glare passes over Elijah's face.
Elijah: An ingrate, opportunist and fool. He is not to be trusted. Even for a moment.
Amber: What about this guy Mapother?
Elijah: A low level celebrity, a mediocre actor given fame far beyond his ability with the help of the Institute. He is beholden to them; over the years they will have accumulated enough blackmail material to ensure his unswerving loyalty.
Amber: You think?
Elijah: I know.
He clears his throat.
Elijah: Remember, Amber. I was a part of the Institute for over ten years, childhood to adolescence, granted a position and privilege.
Amber: You left.
Elijah: Indeed. And the repercussions of that act continue to this day.
Amber: Which brings us back to the beginning. What do you see going down tonight?
Elijah: All I know is that this is not the end. Only the beginning of something truly terrible.
The conversation is interrupted by a vibration as Amber's phone goes off. She withdraws it, glances at the screen.
Amber: I should get going. Need to warm up before the big match. But I'll catch you soon. You take care of yourself, yeah?
Elijah: And you. There is much to fight for. I trust that, when next we meet, belt or briefcase shall be in your possession.
Amber: And the company?
Elijah: We shall see. Be seeing you.
We fade to black as Amber rises to leave.
Commercial
Fade in to a house that has a giant tree right in its middle, the tree top standing tall above the roof, which looks like the tree had just burst through it going by the surrounding debris. "Ever woke up with sudden morning wood?" The camera moves into the house and there are roots everywhere. "We have a solution to make your problems disappear!" Next we see a giant axe on the back of a flatbed truck stopped in front of the house. "At Treecapitator Wood Services there are no problems, only solutions!"
Falls Count Anywhere Match
Dangerous Dan
Vs.
The Lost Soul
Jim Gunt: Looks like Elijah has his fingers into a lot of things tonight, but it IS the all-encompassing topic everybody is talking about, the future of the CWF and the Institute.
Mike Rolash: They can save themselves the trouble of the big match and whatnot, they can just apologize to Mr. Sunset and all is good!
Jim Gunt: Yeah, that sounds like a very likely thing to happen…
Ray Douglas: The following contest is a Grudge Match and is scheduled for one fall! Introducing first..
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragon blares throughout the Tokyo Dome as the fans stand and clap along to the beat of the music. Dangerous Dan, sprints from behind the curtain to yet another overwhelmingly welcome from the Tokyo fans.
Ray Douglas: From Smithville, Tennessee, USA. Weighing in at two hundred and twenty pounds! One half of the Danger Boiz! DANGEROUS DAN!
Jim Gunt: Here we are, once again, Mike, as Dangerous Dan takes on The Lost Soul in a Grudge Match!
Mike Rolash: I thought it was foolish to ask for a Parts Unknown Street Fight… Yet in return I receive a Grudge Match… What in the bloody hell is a Grudge Match?
Jim Gunt: I take it the referee will be a little more lenient with his officiating.. Considering what happened the last time these two encountered each other.
Mike Rolash: Lenient, huh?
Dangerous Dan slaps the hands of the last few remaining Japanese fans at ringside as he slides into the ring. He rushes to a corner, climbing it and posing for the fans who continue to cheer him. His music is suddenly cut off and replace by that of the “Friday the 13th” theme song. The fans displaying their feeling whether like or dislike for the hardened veteran TLS, who walks lazily from behind the curtain. He stops and stares out into the sea of CWF fans worldwide who've come to witness this show.
Ray Douglas: And his opponent, from Parts Unknown! Weighing in at two hundred and thirty five pounds! THE LOST SOUL!
Jim Gunt: You can see the intensity in his eyes!
Mike Rolash: That may be true, but I still don't see where Parts Unknown is located on a map.
TLS makes a beeline straight for the ring, his focus solely on the Dangerous One! He ignores the few outstretched hands of the fans, finally making it to the ring. TLS goes to roll inside the ring, he is sent flying right back outside of the ring as Dan meets him with a Sliding Dropkick! A loud thud is heard as The Lost Soul smacks the floor. Exiting the ring, Dan looks to follow up with his attack.
Jim Gunt: Dangerous Dan taking the early advantage attacking TLS!
Mike Rolash: You have to be unpredictable when you're facing a man from Parts Unknown…
Bringing his foe to his feet by his hair, Dan slams his head off the ring apron. Repeating this offense once again, TLS staggers backwards as Dan strikes him with a right hand, dropping him to the floor. Official Clark Summits pleads with Dan to bring TLS inside the ring to get the match started. His cries are ignored as Dan kicks TLS square in the face sending him back down to the floor.
Jim Gunt: Dangerous Dan not giving this match a chance of being started, he's all over TLS!
Mike Rolash: That's right Dan! Beat his ass all the way back to the depths of the unknown!
Gunt shakes his head at his colleague. Dan brings his opponent back to his feet by his hair, a few strands coming off in the Dangerous One's hand. After rubbing his hand off on his pants, he grabs TLS by the back of his neck, looking to send him face first into the ring post! However The Lost Soul reverses the momentum causing Dan to go head first with the ring post. Dangerous Dan goes spinning through the air and crashes hard to the floor!
Mike Rolash: That was almost like a dangerous frisbee…
Quickly grabbing Dan by his tank top and pants, TLS rolls him into the ring, sliding in himself as Summits calls for the bell, officially starting the match. TLS is to his feet stalking his adversary, like a vulture does it's prey. Making it to his hands and knees, Dangerous Dan is sent back down to the canvas, thanks to the foot of TLS. TLS brings Dan back to his feet, using his head. He hooks the Dangerous One, looking for a suplex, TLS goes to lift him but Dan hooks his leg around TLS’ blocking the maneuver. The move is attempted once more, TLS receiving the same results. Dan however, connects with a Snap Suplex of his own. Dan rolls through, back to his feetand nails a sitting up TLS with a Front Dropkick! Dan hooks the leg going for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Jim Gunt: TLS able to get his shoulder up, Dangerous Dan seems very focused here tonight.
Mike Rolash: I'm starting to like this new aggressive side of Dan.
Dan is quickly to his feet, dropping across the throat of his opponent with a Leg Drop. Dan goes for the pin yet again..
Kickout by The Lost Soul!
He doesn't waste time arguing with Summits about the count. Opting to bring TLS back to his feet, he twist the arm of TLS, Irish whipping him towards the corner. Reversal sends Dangerous Dan crashing hard into the turnbuckles! TLS takes a running start, does a cartwheel and nails Dan across the bridge of the nose with a Back Elbow! Dan staggers out of the corner as TLS runs the ropes facing Dan. He bounces off the ropes and takes Dan down with a football tackle and begins to lay into the Dangerous One with brutal rights and lefts!
Jim Gunt: TLS able to turn the tides of this match!
Mike Rolash: The streets of Parts Unknown at very tough my friend.
Dan tries his best to cover up from the assault, TLS looks to continue the beat down, bringing Dan back to his feet by his hair. TLS yanks his hair, pulling him towards the corner. He goes to smash the Dangerous One's face into the top turnbuckle, but Dan finds the strength to block it, grabbing the ring ropes! Dan rears back with a side kick to the gut of TLS, forcing him to let go and stumble backwards.. Dan doesn't let the chance go by the wayside as he springs to the middle ropes in the corner. He jumps off, twisting towards TLS, grabbing his head, spins, and drives him head first into the canvas!
Jim Gunt: That was a DANGEROUS PATH TLS just took, it could be all over Mike! Dan going for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
TH-NO!
The Lost Soul barely able to get his shoulder up! Dan visibly frustrated, wiping some of the paint chips from his face, brings his foe back up and attempts to throw him through the ropes. TLS, the ever crafty one, reverses, sending Dan sailing over the top rope! TLS drops to one knee exhausted from the battle, using the middle rope for leverage. He finally makes it to his feet, running the ropes, looking for a Suicide Dive! Sliding Soccer Pele Kick puts a halt to his efforts! Dan lies on apron, breathing heavily as TLS is laid slump on through the ropes.
Jim Gunt: Incredible reversal by Dangerous Dan, he's refusing to stay down in this fight!
Mike Rolash: TLS better recover quickly, because he's in a bad spot!
Dan rolls off the apron back to the floor, he hooks TLS, dragging his body till his legs drape over the ropes. He lets out a primal yell before suplexing TLS from the ropes down to the floor! TLS shrieks out in pain, but tries to control it. Dan slowly getting to his feet, he forcefully brings TLS to his and rolls him back into the ring. TLS rolls right into position as Dan scales to the top rope. He lines TLS up and jumps off with a Shooting Star Press! TLS somehow is able to get out of the way of the high flying maneuver as Dan comes crashing into the canvas! TLS takes advantage going for the cover as Summits slides in for the count!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Jim Gunt: Dangerous Dan crashed and burned badly on the big risk attempt!
Mike Rolash: I guess Elias’ Room wasn't a place The Lost Soul wanted to go…
TLS curses to himself, choosing to bring Dan back to his feet. He blasts the Dangerous One with a hard right that sends him staggering into the ropes, where he bounces off right onto another hard right hand courtesy of The Lost Soul. Dan leans into the ropes again, bouncing off into a boot from TLS. He hooks him, attempting a suplex again. TLS lifts Dan bouncing his legs off the ropes and driving him into the mat with a SLINGSHOT SUPLEX! TLS floats over on top of Dan for another cover!
ONE!
TWO!
Jim Gunt: Dan able to get his foot on the ropes!
TLS gives Clark Summits the evil eye as he brings Dan up once more, dragging him to the corner. He socks Dan right across the jaw with another brutal punch. The fans inside the Tokyo Dome begin to shout out encouragement to Dan, trying to will him back into this match. TLS goes for another punch, Dan ducks underneath, switching positions with TLS. Dan nails a huge slap that sends saliva flying from TLS’ mouth. Dangerous Dan lifts a dazed TLS onto the top turnbuckle, climbing the corner himself as well. Dan teeters on the top rope as he pulls TLS up to a standing position as well. He finally has TLS upright, hooking him with a waistlock. TLS tries to fight him off but Dan quickly flips backwards, sending himself and TLS crashing hard onto the canvas!
Jim Gunt: Oh My God! CYCLORAMA!
Mike Rolash: They damn near went through the ring!
The impact of the move sends Dan bouncing off top of TLS and to his feet. He rushes quickly to TLS, doubling him over, placing TLS’ head between his head and hooking his arms. He lifts TLS, spins and drives him face first into the canvas with the DANGER ZONE! Dan slowly rolls TLS over and hooks his leg!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Clark calls for the bell as Dan rolls off the body of The Lost Soul..
Ray Douglas: Here is your winner, by pinfall! DANGEROUS DAN!!
Fighting Dogs
Jim Gunt: What a match that was, but I’ve just been told that there’s a situation unfolding here at the Tokyo Dome!
Cut from Jim Gunt to a scuffle. Sam and Silas are trying to charge at each other, but are held back by Dean and Autumn respectively.
Sam Braxton: COME ON YOU SON OF A BITCH!
They struggle to try and break their hold.
Silas Artoria: WHY DON’T YOU GET YOUR ASS HERE YOU SNAKE IN THE GRASS!? COME ON! I’LL SCRAPE YOUR ASS ALL OVER THE DOME!
Dean and Autumn push them back.
Dean Coulter: You’ll be right, mate!
Autumn Raven: Save it for the match! The pair of you!
They finally break the hold, but the two simply look at each other.
Sam Braxton: You don’t have the balls, you never had the balls. Good luck walking tonight.
He and Dean walk away, Silas slows his breathing, before Autumn roughly pushes him against the nearby wall.
Autumn Raven: What the hell do you think you’re doing, just trying to find a scrap like that!?
Silas Artoria: He betr--
Autumn Raven: Yes, I am very aware of that, we both know that! But save the frustration for the ring and the match! We don’t have to deal with disqualifications, and you’ll have all the time in the world to lay waste to him. Is that clear enough?
Silas hardens his lips.
Autumn Raven: We don’t need nor want a no contest result by this pathetic scrapping, otherwise we’ll look like complete buffoons in front of the goddamn world!
She gets close, and quickly grabs his eyelids. She looks at the full eyeball, before looking at the other.
Autumn Raven: If he shows up, I won’t hesitate, even if it means costing the match. Got it?
Silas grits his teeth, and soon exhales deeply.
Silas Artoria: Yes.
She lightly slaps his face and smiles.
Autumn Raven: Now get yourself dressed. Wouldn’t want the world to miss our special outfit.
She shows her toothy smile, before walking away. Silas rubs his eyes, and looks at Autumn. An audible chuckle exits his lungs.
Ouroboros
We are outside, standing on the roof of the arena. The lights of Tokyo spread out into the distance. The moon is full, stars shining down.
At the edge of the roof stands Ouroboros - Elisha, Choronzon, and the prophetess Cassandra. They stand in front of a huge atom-in-ouroboros symbol in wrought iron, doused in lighter fluid.
Elisha stares directly into the camera, his eyes fierce, piercing into the viewer.
Elisha: Seventy three years ago this year, the United States committed an act that, for one brief moment, would silence the world. The atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki unleashed unheard of suffering - not only those killed in the bombings and their aftermath, but the shadow they left over the coming century.
Hiroshima was a warning, Nagasaki a prophecy - a prophecy of the war to end all wars.
Seventy three years ago, the United States committed a crime of war in the name of peace, defended humanity by exterminating it in untold numbers in a single, spectacular act. Protected humanity’s best values, or so we are told, by giving in to its worst impulses.
Morality is an illusion, democracy, human rights and liberty doubly so. The nations that today pride themselves on freedom and democracy slaughtered their way around the globe in the name of Empire in the 19th century, for peace and humanity in the 20th. In the 21st, there is only chaos, a slow unravelling of the world order.
Cassandra: And chaos, darlings, is what we do best!
She blows the viewer a kiss.
Elisha: The great of the world, in politics, business, religion - all pursue their goals with ruthless and unremitting violence. The greatest atrocities the world has ever known were carried out in the name of the loftiest of goals.
In our own cruelty, we only reflect the cruelty of the world. We have no need to justify ourselves through twisted morality or political posturing. All there is is power.
And tonight, power shall be ours.
Choronzon: Cali and Jace. The Academy really wasn't that long ago, was it? Sometimes I can still smell the smoke.
The Battle for the Academy was just a trailer. Tonight we get to our special feature. The CWF, Ouroboros, and the set of false prophets who currently head the Institute. Winners take all.
Should be quite the show. Too bad your little friend James isn't around to see it. I'd say I'm sorry about that but, you know…
He shrugs.
Choronzon: I'm not.
Cassandra: And then there's Team Institute. Ryan and his little friend Mapother, backed up by the rhyming monkey.
She raises a middle finger at the camera.
Cassandra: You pieces of shit used me, fucked me up, turned me into a human lab rat to serve your miserable plans. Only you did your job far, far better than you could possibly imagine. And now all that knowledge, all that ability, strength - it's going to destroy you.
Once we take the Institute, you will be waiting on us hand and foot. The fuckers become the fucked.
Elisha: We are not afraid.
Elisha reaches into his pocket, withdrawing a packet of matches. He lights them, touching the fire to the atom-in-ouroboros symbol. It bursts into life, blazing, the trio illuminated by the flames.
Elisha: Tonight is ours.
Elisha, Choronzon and Cassandra walk out of shot. The camera stays focused on the atom-in-ouroboros as we fade.
Paramount Title Fatal Fourway Elimination Match
Christian Starr ©
Vs.
Azrael
Vs.
Impakt
Vs.
Mia Rayne
Jim Gunt: Things are heating up with the Lost Boys and the Harbingers already almost facing off before their match later on, there is no love lost in this match-up.
Mike Rolash: If the Bloodletter comes out, then this is going to be even more vicious than what we are already expecting!
Jim Gunt: And looks like Elisha has some big plans for tonight, maybe we’ll see even more fire than what the match is promising.
Ray Douglas: The following contest is a Fatal Four Way Elimination Match! And it is for the CWF Paramount Championship!
"Time for Tea" hits the arena speakers and the lights die out, leaving the crowd in pitch black. Suddenly blue spotlights turn on to reveal Mia Rayne, hands behind her back, smiling and rocking on her heels. She starts to skip around in circles, her head bopping to the music, the spotlight following her in an almost mesmerizing trance.
Ray Douglas: Introducing the first challenger, from Buffalo, New York, USA! Weighing in at one hundred and ninety pounds! MIA RAYNE!
Jim Gunt: Mia Rayne’s stock here in the CWF has certainly been on the rise add of late, Mike…
Mike Rolash: The only rise I've seen her really get, is one out of Ataxia..
Without missing a beat she veers onto the entrance ramp and continues to skip down to the ring, to the beat of the music lightly giggling as she makes her way to the ring. She rolls underneath the bottom rope as Autumn's voice growls, “it's....TIME....FOR....TEEEEAAAAA!!!!!" This makes Mia collapse into a ball in the middle of the ring as the spotlight intensifies on her. She rocks back and forth as the music dies out and the lights turn off. As they fade back on she is already in her corner of the ring, twitching with anticipation for the beginning of the match. The words “Player One has Entered the Fight” flicker across the screen as “Blow Me Away” by Breaking Benjamin starts to play and Impakt leaps onto the stage amidst a shower of white sparks. He rallies the crowd and rushes straight down the ramp.
Ray Douglas: Introducing challenger number two, from Parts Unknown! Weighing in at one hundred and seventy-four pounds! IMPAKT!
Jim Gunt: Here comes the man who could have the biggest gripe with Mia Rayne, for costing him a chance at winning the coveted Paramount title..
Mike Rolash: Hold on, this guy’s from Parts Unknown too. Talent relations really need to do a better job of getting W-2 information.
He slides under the ring ropes, into the ring and takes in his surroundings. Impakt steps up onto the ring ropes and raises his arm. Halestorm’s “I am the Fire” starts while the lights go dark. Azrael makes his way to the top of the ramp.
Ray Douglas: Introducing challenger number three, from his own personal Hell! Weighing in at two hundred and forty five pounds! AZRAEL!!
Mike Rolash: I'm still trying to understand, why is this guy even involved in this match..
Jim Gunt: Maybe because he's a talented competitor Mike..
Mike Rolash: His win-loss record says different, it's like getting a participation award.
As the chorus begins, columns of fire illuminate Azrael as he walks to the ring with his head bent down with a hint of his head bobbing to the beat. The arena lights cut out and the bright glow of the titantron draws all the attention of the crowd as the screen lights up with the words to "Kings Never Die..."'
The camera pans down to the entrance lamp where now a single spotlight shines brightly behind two silhouetted figures. One a towering monster of a man, the other a man standing stoically in front, dwarfed by comparison.
HAAAAAAILLL TO THE KIIINNNNG!
The lights flare to an almost blinding intensity as Avenged Sevenfold's "Hail to the King" takes over the arena’s P.A. system. The figures are now clear to see, the larger is Payne, who raises his arms into the air as the opening words ring out. In front of him is "The King of Wrestling" Christian Starr, he throws open his leather jacket to reveal the Paramount Championship around his waist.
HAAAAILLLL TO THE OOONNNNE!
Starr turns around and starts backing his way down the entrance way with a clearly confident swagger to his step, Payne follows close behind flexing and looking just all around menacing.
Ray Douglas: Finally... Making his way to the ring, being accompanied by PAYNE! Weighing in at one hundred and ninety pounds from Los Angeles, California, USA. He is "The King of Wrestling" ... Christian STARR!
Mike Rolash: Now this is the guy people paid money to see!
Jim Gunt: Be that as it may, he still has three very game competitors sharing the ring with him.
PAYNE climbs his way into the ring over the top rope as Starr high fives some of the lucky fans in the front row, he shoots his way up the ring steps and climbs the turnbuckle. Here he strikes a pose throwing up the 2 Sweet hand sign as PAYNE raises his arms high in front of him, letting out a roar as he does.
Jim Gunt: We all can be ready assured that this match is going to be a hard hitting affair.
Mike Rolash: It's four very different styles and in this match, you really don't know what to expect.
Payne finally makes his way outside of the ring as the three challengers eye him the entire way. The official for this match “Big” Denny Davidson retrieves the Paramount title from Starr. He displays the belt to the challengers before showcasing it to the crowd. After the moment of display, he takes the championship and hands it to a ringside attendant. Davidson then instructs the competitors that two must start in the ring, while the other two go to the respective corners. Mia Rayne and Azrael choose to start the match off as Impakt and Starr step out to the apron.
“Big” Denny calls for the bell, Mia and Azrael face each other as Mia burst out in laughter. Azrael looks at her, then around at the crowd who all share the same confusion as him. The uncontrollable laughter continues until Azrael finally decides to make his move, shooting a boot into the gut of Rayne. He grabs her arm and shoots her into the ropes going for a lariat, Rayne ducks underneath the outstretched arm of Azrael, bouncing off the other set of ropes. Upon her return she drops a turning Azrael with a clothesline of her own! Mia begins to giggle as she begins skipping circles around a frustrated Azrael.
Jim Gunt: The insanity that is Mia Rayne is mind numbing.
Mike Rolash: Is there any legit way to train for someone like her?
Azrael slowly makes it to his feet as Rayne continues to skip around. She stops right in front of Azrael and blows him a kiss. Infuriated, Azrael attempts a wild swing, which is sidestepped by Mia, he turns into ropes where Mia blasts his chest with a knife edge chop. She unleashes with another one that sends Azrael retreating from the ropes. He curses loudly as he slaps the shoulder of Impakt on his way out of the ring. Impakt, a bit taken aback from the tag, cautiously climbs into ring. Mia smiles and giggles to herself as she awaits Impakt. He comes rushing at Mia like a bat outta hell, she tries for another clothesline, but Impakt dodges the strike, handsprings off the ropes and takes her out on the return with a Roundhouse Kick! The devastation from the kick sends Mia rolling outside of the ring.
Jim Gunt: Impakt looks to be ready to prove a point here tonight!
Mike Rolash: Mia cost him the Paramount title, so it's only right he has a chip on his shoulder.
Mia paces back and forth at ringside, screaming at herself, for letting herself get caught off guard. During her pep talk with herself, Azrael moves along the apron to get a better shot at her. He runs the apron and catches her by surprise with a Flying Knee Strike! The crowd responds with cheers to the aggressive move from Azrael. He doesn't have time to admire his work though, as Impakt comes flying over the top rope taking Azrael out with a Crossbody! The fans explode with cheers once again, the Paramount champ seeing a chance for him to shine. He comes into the ring and quickly runs towards the corner nearest to his opponents. The crowd come to their feet in anticipation for the “King of Wrestling”, however he jumps down to the apron and climbs back into the ring. He poses for the fans, taunting them, instantly inciting boos from the crowd. With a huge smile plastered on his face, he cockily walks back to his respective corner, climbing out to the apron and high fives Payne.
Jim Gunt: The Paramount Champion, ladies and gentlemen.. In all his glory…
Mike Rolash: Isn't it awesome!
Meanwhile, Impakt is able to roll Mia back into the ring. He goes for the cover, but she quickly kicks out at one! He brings her to her feet, nailing her with a forearm shiver, that sends her staggering back. Impakt nails her once more with another forearm that sends her colliding with the corner turnbuckles. Impakt runs to the opposite side of the ring, before charging back in at Rayne. Who has recovered quickly, catching Impakt and throwing him into the air. On his decent down, she strikes him with a hard right hand that sends him crashing to the canvas! She begins to laugh hysterically, as she backs away from the downed body of Impakt. In her retreat, she backs right into the corner of Azrael. Catching him by surprise with a hard slap across the face, that rings throughout the Tokyo Dome, even silencing some of the fans!
Jim Gunt: Oh my…
Mike Rolash: Now that's what I call a tag..
Mia smiles at Azrael as she slowly climbs to the apron and he slowly climbs inside. The two keep eye contact until Azrael turns his attention towards Impakt. Azrael viciously begins to stomp on the downed body of Impakt! Impakt tries his best to cover up, but Azrael brings Impakt up by his mask. But as quick as he brought Impakt up, he sends Impakt twisting to the canvas with a vicious clothesline! Azrael looks in the direction of Mia, who just smiles and waves at him. This makes Azrael even angrier, he brings Impakt up again, whipping him towards the corner occupied by Mia.. Impakt crashes into the turnbuckles hard as Azrael follows suit. Impakt moves out of the way as Azrael comes crashing hard into Mia sending her off the apron.
Jim Gunt: It seems to me that the focus of Mia Rayne and Azrael have solely been on each other.
Mike Rolash: Do they not know this match is for the Paramount Championship!
A small smile forms across the face of Azrael, as he turns right into a Spinning Heel Kick from a recovered Impakt! Azrael is on the canvas thanks to the impact of the strike, Impakt makes his way to the top turnbuckle, looking for a high risk maneuver. Azrael recovers quickly as well, knocking Impakt’s legs out from under him, sending him crashing down hard onto his jewels! Christian Starr stands on the opposite side of the ring in his corner, applauding his opponents on.
Jim Gunt: Christian Starr has yet to see any real action in this contest..
Mike Rolash: Why should he, he's the champ, why not let these fools destroy each other?
Azrael climbs the corner as well, hooking Impakt for a superplex.. Impakt fights against his attempt though. Unbeknownst to them, Mia has climbed back onto the apron, touching the leg of Azrael for the tag. He continues to struggle with Impakt, until Mia climbs into the ring and jumps onto the ropes herself! She hooks Azrael from behind and jumps back, taking him off the ropes with a GERMAN SUPLEX AS AZRAEL TAKES IMPAKT OUT WITH A SUPERPLEX! The Tokyo Dome cheers on admiration for the huge Tower of Doom.. Christian Starr along with Payne enjoying the action as well.
Jim Gunt: That was an incredible sight to see! Did you see how far Impakt flew across the ring.
Mike Rolash: Yes I did Jimbo… And I'm enjoying every minute of it, along with the King!
Starr is seen clapping for the tremendous maneuver as his challengers all lay sprawled on the mat. Mia is the first to stir as she crawls over to Impakt looking for a pin attempt! She finally makes it to him, draping an arm across his chest, Davidson sliding in for the count!
ONE!
TWO!
TH-NO!
Azrael breaks up the pin attempt with a vicious stomp to the back of Mia’s head. He quickly yanks her off canvas and throws her aggressively out of the ring and at the feet of Payne.. Azrael, with his target in sight, climbs out of the ring and comes face to chest with the monster Payne. Azrael scoffs for him to move, and he surprisingly obliges. Azrael picks up a dazed Mia again, throwing her hard into the guardrail!
Jim Gunt: Looks like Azrael is done with Mia’s mind games!
Mike Rolash: Ataxia’s not going to like this one bit…
Mia can be seen giggling a bit as Azrael lifts her up once more, he hooks her for a Suplex, but tosses her into the ring apron back first! The crowd let's out an audible “Oh!” as Mia drops to the floor landing on her neck. Azrael is soon heard screaming obscenities at Mia, “Laugh now you crazy bitch!” Azrael rolls Mia back into the ring, following behind her. He turns his attention to Impakt, going towards him, grabbing his arm and dragging him to a corner. Azrael forces the tag to Impakt, quickly going back for Mia. He drags her to the center of the ring and locks her in a Sharpshooter! He sits down deep on the back of Mia, trying to get her to submit.
Jim Gunt: Azrael is trying to put her out of action with the Sharpshooter, he has the hold on tight!
Mike Rolash: This crazy chick is laughing again!
Just as Mike said, Mia is hysterically laughing as Azrael yells for her to tap. She only responds with laughter as she soon begins to fade. Azrael sits, tugs, and pulls with everything he has in him! Yelling for Rayne to submit, Davidson is checking to see if she will, but the only thing he sees is her passed out from the pain. He lifts her arm, letting it go as it drops slump to the mat, he does it again to the same results. Davidson lifts her arm one more time, releases and hits the canvas yet again. Denny signaling that she is eliminated!
Ray Douglas: Mia Rayne has been eliminated!
Azrael releases the hold on Mia but is quickly attacked from behind by Starr. He lays into Azrael with stomps to the back. Azrael tries his best to escape the onslaught of kicks that come his way. He rolls away from Starr trying to put some space between them. Eventually he ends up outside the ring. The fresher Starr is hot on his trails though, running to the corner and leaping over the ropes to the apron. Starr lines up a shot on Azrael who's trying to recover and catches him with a Superkick from the apron to his jaw! Starr celebrates his achievement but doesn't notice Impakt who comes back into the ring and knocks Starr off the apron!
Jim Gunt: All of Starr’s gloating may have come back to bite him in the ass.
Mike Rolash: Christian Starr has a game plan and so far it is working. This is just a minor bump in the road…
Impakt sluggishly lies on the top rope, holding himself up. He begins to slowly climb up to the top rope, his attention is suddenly shifted by the roar of Payne, who has climbed onto the apron and into the ring.
Jim Gunt: What is Payne doing!?
Mike Rolash: The match is no disqualification Jimmy..
Jim Gunt: Denny still needs to do something about this!
Payne charges at Impakt, who uses his speed and agility to his advantage. Impakt cartwheels along the top rope, evading Payne’s attack. He lands inside of the ring and quickly runs the ropes, Payne turns in the direction he is turning and attempts a lariat with his tree trunk sized arm. However, Impakt ducks under the attack and comes flying through the ropes with a SUICIDE DIVE TAKING THE PARAMOUNT CHAMPION OUT!! Impakt is quickly to his feet celebrating, when the massive hands of Payne grabs him by the top of his mask. Impakt struggles against Payne’s grip. But it proves futile as Payne dead lifts him from the ground and back into the ring! In one fell swoop motion, Payne lifts Impakt unto his shoulders, takes a running start driving Impakt into the canvas with TORTURE BY NATURE! “Big” Denny Davidson pleads with Payne to leave the ring which he calmly obliges. The Tokyo Dome livid with his actions, as he smiles while exiting the ring..
Jim Gunt: What was that all about?
Mike Rolash: Maybe the fact that Impakt kicked him in the face on the last episode of Evolution!
The crowd is to their feet, cheering the downed competitors on. Impakt is seen rolling out of the ring as Azrael and Starr slowly make it to their feet. The crowd claps in unison as Azrael and Starr finally come face to face. Starr tries for a punch, but it's blocked, right hand from Azrael! The champ staggers back a bit, Azrael grabs him by his head, slamming him into the ring apron. This dazes the champ as Azrael hooks him for a suplex, tossing him right into the ring apron, just as he did Mia! Azrael retrieves the champ from the ground looking to do more damage. He lifts Starr unto his shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry. He walks towards the apron and spins Starr off, sending him SPIRALING DOWN face first into ring apron! Azrael let's out another primal yell, as he is determined to win this match.
Jim Gunt: Azrael just kicked it into another gear Mike!
Mike Rolash: He better watch out behind him!
As Azrael attempted to climb back into the ring, a loud smack of steel meeting flesh is heard as Azrael drops back to the ground. Mia is seen smiling and wielding a steel chair in hand. She skips along ringside laughing as she brings the chair crashing across the back of Azrael yet again. She puts her hand over her face as if to say, did I do that, before bringing the chair crashing across his flesh one more. She throws the chair down proud of her work, lifts Azrael and rolls him back inside of the ring as Starr slowly crawls for the cover. He drapes his arm over the chest of Azrael as “Big” Denny makes the count!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Ray Douglas: Azrael has been eliminated!
The crowd boos the outcome, not because they were rooting for Azrael, but because of the outside interference from the returning Mia Rayne. Starr slowly rolls Azrael out of the ring, as Impakt makes his way inside the ring to finish off the match. Starr finally make it to his feet and turns toward Impakt, who beckons for him to bring it! The two men charge at each other like bulls, meeting each other in the center of the ring with hard punches! The Tokyo Dome eats every bit of the moment up, majority of the fans cheering Impakt on. Impakt gains the advantage in the slugfest, as he shoots kicks into the torso and legs of Starr. Impakt looks for a Roundhouse Kick but Starr ducks only to be met by the returning foot of Impakt as he comes full circle! Starr drops the mat as Impakt quickly goes for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!
Impakt slaps the canvas out of frustration, choosing to bring Starr back up to a vertical base. Impakt looks to whip him into the ropes, no, reversal by Starr! He pulls Impakt in grabbing him by his head, driving him face first into the mat!
Mike Rolash: MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT! And that's exactly what Starr did to Impakt!
Jim Gunt: Look! Now he's locking Impakt into the KING’S CROSS! This one could be all over Mike!
Impakt struggles against the submission maneuver as the fans rise to their feet. Impakt searches the ring for some kind of escape, but there's not one in sight! Christian Starr pulls back on the submission hold with everything he's got, yelling for Impakt to tap! Impakt keeps trying to fight and escape, but it's inevitable as finally Impakt has to succumb to the pain and taps out! “Big” Denny Davidson calling for the bell.
Ray Douglas: Here is your winner and STILL CWF PARAMOUNT CHAMPION! CHRISTIAN STARR!
Denny is handed the title from a ring attendant as he gives it to an exhausted Christian Starr! Payne, who has entered the ring, helps the champ to his feet, where he raises the Paramount Championship high into the air! The Tokyo Dome showing their displeasure from the outcome.
Jim Gunt: With all of the attacks Impakt took during this match it was only a matter of time before he would fall in this match.
Mike Rolash: Don't discredit the King, Jimbo, Starr had a game plan and he stuck to it.
Reborn
Following Christian Starr’s monumental victory in the fatal four way match for the Paramount Championship, a video package suddenly appears on the titantron. The audience quiets down upon noticing this, turning their attention towards the gigantic screen. The CWF Tron now takes complete control over the CWF video feed going out to the live audience across the world.
In what appears to be a live feed directly to the arena, the audience can clearly see an exceedingly muscular man of about average height. He’s leaned up against an old brick wall in what appears to be an alleyway. The fading sunlight barely highlights the glistening sweat on the man’s engorged biceps, his arms fully revealed as a result of the sleeveless sweatshirt he’s wearing. His sweatshirt, as black as the night sky, reads “Reborn” in bold, plain white font. The man’s jeans closely match his sweatshirt, albeit with a slight fade to them. His boots, also black, appear to be of standard military issue. Pulled low over this man’s face is an oversized black hood originating from his sweatshirt. His viewable facial features betray a chiseled jawline and a small, clean goatee; however, beyond that, the coverage of the hood currently makes identifying this man a bit of mystery beyond the average viewer’s discerning.
The camera zooms in slightly, to the point where the viewer can only see the man’s midsection and head. It takes a moment, but this muscular man finally appears to get a cue from off-scene and turns his head to face the camera. His face is still not quite discernable as his begins to speak in a low, almost guttural tone.
“Ladies, gentlemen and most specifically Christian Starr. Allow me to re-introduce myself to all of you involved with the Championship Wrestling Federation… I am…”
The man pauses for a moment, slowly building the suspense for the CWF audience.
Kaden Vossk: Kaden Vossk.
The official video feed switches cameras at this juncture, showcasing a shocked reaction from around the crowd in the Tokyo Dome. After several seconds of footage containing mostly astonishment from the audience in attendance, the official feed cuts over to the announce table, where the CWF announcers seem equally shocked.
Jim Gunt speaks, a strong hint of surprise in his voice, as though he wasn’t expecting anything of this nature: What in the world could Kaden Vossk want with CWF?!?
Mike Rolash shakes his head in disbelief for a couple of seconds before responding to his partner: I can’t tell you for sure, but I’ll be we’re about to find out. I can’t believe they’re giving this lunatic a live microphone! Rumor has it he was fired for making extremely homophobic remarks to other talent backstage!
Jim responds at this juncture: My understanding is that it was a ‘mutually agreed upon decision’ after discussion between Mr. Vossk’s agent and CWF management… but, apparently, despite all that, Kaden Vossk has invaded our titantron and we’ll have no choice but to hear out this horrid man’s speech.
At this juncture, the official CWF feed cuts back to only showing the live feed from Kaden currently showing on the titantron.
The muscular man pulls back the hood of his sweatshirt, revealing to the CWF audience that he is, indeed, Kaden Vossk. He flexes his biceps for a moment, before continuing…
Kaden Vossk: Firstly, Mr. Starr, allow me to congratulate you on your hard-fought victory and successful defense of the Paramount Championship. You should be proud of your accomplishment in the ring this evening and take some time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to celebrate. As a man who’s always done whatever it takes to pull out a victory, I can appreciate your efforts… and your methods.
However… I cannot stand idly by while you attempt to take this company by storm through means of coercion, driven only by your own uncontrollable ego. I’ve paid a… reasonable amount of attention your recent ascension through the ranks of drivel and plebeians here in the CWF… and I truly believe, from the depths of my heart, that I would be amiss to allow your reign to continue without a… how shall I phrase it…
Kaden pauses once more, this type for several seconds, for dramatic effect: A real challenge.
While the CWF video feed doesn’t change at all following this statement, some scattered booing can be heard from the crowd. Kaden merely smirks, but in a manner of amusement, more so than the scathing smirk that past viewers of his work would recognize.
Slowly, the smirk fades from Kaden’s face, his expression now one of steely determination and pure focus; this unfamiliar look engulfs his facial features prior to his continued monologue.
Kaden Vossk: However, allow me to explain myself, as many of you out there in the CWF realm may still be confused. You see, Mr. Starr, I used to be very much like you. I wanted to surround myself with followers, be a leader, be worshipped in a cult of personality based solely on… well, me. Hell, I mean, most of the audience will probably remember I used to strut around CWF with a shirt that read, literally, ‘Omnipotent’. It took me some time… well, along with some real revelations in my life, to allow me to fully understand, that, despite my delusionary thoughts… I wasn’t actually omnipotent. I was nothing at all like a God… just another mere mortal, stuck on an archaic personal image of myself I’d held onto for far too long.
Just like you do now, I thought I was better than everyone around me. I lorded myself over others, treated staff and talent like shit backstage, walked all over everyone, merely because my status around the industry afforded me that luxury. Not because -any- human being should be elevated to that level. We shouldn’t. When you’re put up on a pedestal, as is being done to you currently, by everyone that surrounds you… well, you start to believe the bullshit. It’s contagious. It’s easy to get carried away and start doing stupid shit when there’s nobody willing to put you back in line.
Kaden pauses for a moment, allowing a shallow chuckle to escape his lips, before moving to the final portion of his monologue.
Kaden Vossk: As alluded to previously, I can finally see the world around me clearly… maybe for the first time in my entire life. I can’t, in good conscience, stand by while you parade around CWF, acting like you’re some sort of savior, when in fact you’re nothing but a hollow shell of an actual person. Caring only about yourself, showing no respect for all the people around you, who, willingly or not, have allowed you to elevate yourself to your current status… so, this is a warning to you, Mr Starr. Control yourself. Remember what it means to be human, before you lose yourself, just as I did. If not… I’ll be watching… and waiting.
Suddenly, the previously full color feed of Vossk turns grayscale, the image appearing to shake and distort as viewers can just barely make out Kaden turning from the camera, throwing his hood back up and walking off camera, as the distortion fully takes over the feed for several seconds, before a sudden cut to black.
The official CWF feed cuts back to the announce table, where the announcers still seem to be a bit confused about what they just witnessed.
Commercial
Tokyo, Japan, a metro station. Hundreds of people push and shove to get to the trains. A man turns around and says something to one of his co-commuters, whose face shows that the gentleman seems to be suffering from bad breath. He offers him a bright red chewing gum, which he puts in his mouth immediately. All of a sudden we see Chaolin Sahn come into the picture with a boot straight to the face of the man, following it up with a hard head butt. "Chaolin Sahn Cinnamon Gum - It brings the fire, it brings the heat. It brings a freshness that can't be beat!"
Gal Pals
Autumn uns a hand through her hair, letting out a sigh as she looks up towards the door, narrowing her eyes at it before looking back to the piece of paper sitting besides her, folded in half carefully. She picks it up and opens it, slightly frowning at the dried blood splotches at the bottom, reading it silently to herself.
Dearest Partner Autumn Person I Never Met Before Now...
My name is Mia Rayne and I am very VERY not good at this sort of thing. As you might have guessed, I don't have very many people skills and well, it doesn't help that I am certifiably insane and currently have the hots for a guy that runs around in burlap. I mean...Have you seen Ataxia?
He's so....
Mmm....
Stay away from him for he is my honey pie snoogy boogums.
Anyways, he's a dude and as such doesn't always get me, being the enigmatic woman that I am. I've heard that having an ear to talk to is therapeutic and I've been told that even with permission, it's often times frowned upon to cut off someone's ear to talk to them. So I guess what I'm wondering... Shit, I told you I'm not good at this, WE'RE not good at this...
Want to be my gal pal?
Autumn folds it back up, sighing. Her tag team partner, Mia Rayne, had sent this to her before their match at the last Evolution event. She had thought it a bit strange, even stranger with the blood at the bottom, at the time. Stranger still with the way the document was worded. Everything about it, and her, was strange. They had won their match, and then this was slipped under her door. A way to extend...friendship to her? That’s what she got out of it.
She sets the letter down, picking up a blank pad of paper she keeps around in her bags and begins to write.
Yo Mia Rayne…
I haven’t seen Ataxia at all, and if you want that burlap covered man, you can have him.
As for your insanity, as long as you don’t try to gouge out my eyes in the middle of the night or do anything...weird….you know….to me….then I think we can be pals...I think…
You’re a bit of an...ok...you are an oddball….but then again so am I….just not so much on the crazy/psycho side.
I can see this working. Us being...gal pals.
Autumn smirks, shrugging and tears off the piece of paper, tossing down the pad as she gets up and exits the room, striding to find out where Mia is hiding at. Asking a passing referee he points her way down the hallway, to the last door there. Autumn stands in front of it, biting her lip as she looks at the note, feeling like a schoolgirl with a crush than a person looking for a friend. With one quick slip, she shoves it under the door and runs off.
Fade.
Grudge Match
Jack King
Vs.
Shane Donovan
Backstage, Tara Robinson stands next to the journeyman wrestler, Jumpin’ Jack King.
Tara Robinson: Jack, next up is your grudge match against Shane Donovan. You’re about to step into the ring for the first time on pay per view, and for the first time in years, period. You’re going to stand in the middle of the ring in the most famous arena in Japan against a man who has targeted your family in an effort to get to your nephew Jarvis. How are you feeling?
Jack looks down at his hands for a moment as Tara puts the mic to his mouth.
Jack King: Tara, I’m not a stupid man. I know that the most significant thing that I’ve ever done in this business is being Jarvis King’s uncle. The other thing I know is that any man who’s worth his salt stands up for himself and his family. Shane Donovan’s the type of man who’d sooner run away from his problems than face up to them. Tonight, there’s no running, Tara. Tonight, I get my hands on Shane Donovan, and believe me, that’s going to feel damn good.
With that, Jack exits the scene, and we go back to ringside.
Jim Gunt: Looks like Jack is ready to rock here, but I still can’t believe that they allowed Kaden Vossk back into CWF!
Mike Rolash: I guess everybody deserves a second chance?
Jim Gunt: They should apply that to you as well…
Mike Rolash: Oh, that is so nice, I deserve a second chance?
Jim Gunt: No, they should have cut you a long time ago, your chances are in the triple digits by now…
Mike Rolash: Hey, that’s not-
The bell rings, and the camera closes in on Ray Douglas.
Ray Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is a special grudge match, and it is set for one fall!
“High Voltage” by Linkin Park begins to play, as the lights cut down to low, with hues of red, yellow and orange. The Tokyo crowd gets to their feet and boo heartily as Shane Donovan walks through the curtain. He smiles cruelly as he shrugs his shoulders, lifting the massive custom-made duster coat with various titles he’s won over the years up a few inches for a moment. He adjusts the leather dog collar around his neck and begins to walk to the ring with purpose.
Ray Douglas: Introducing first, from Norfolk, Virginia, USA! Weighing in at 220 lbs, he is the Man Made Monster, SHANE DONOVAN!
The crowd boos the announcement as if it were the first time that Donovan showed his face as he slides into the ring. Donovan takes off his jacket and takes off into the ropes, criss-crossing the ring a few times before stopping in the center of the ring. He stares into the camera, and shouts “THIS IS YOUR FAULT, JARVIS. DON’T FORGET!” as referee Clark Summits walks over to him to give him his instructions.
Jim Gunt: Well, folks, this might be nasty, I’m not going to lie to you.
Mike Rolash: Damn right, Jimbo! We’re gonna see a public execution of a walrus!
Jim Gunt: Well, Shane Donovan is a darkly dangerous man, who is consumed by anger, and Jack King is a man who is driven by desire to do right by his family. It is two men on an incontrovertible collision course, here at Unhinged in the Tokyo Dome!
Mike Rolash: Jim, relax, we’ve already got their money.
Shane rolls his eyes as Summits tries to tell him his expectations for the match, and he flips the referee off, eliciting a fresh round of booing from the Tokyo Dome. This is quickly replaced by a hearty cheer from the crowd, as “Glory Days” by Bruce Springsteen begins to play. As The Boss’s legendary riff echoes around the famous Tokyo venue, Jack King walks through the curtain wearing an old-school singlet with long pants. He adjusts his elbow pads and walks down the ramp, slapping hands with fans on his way down to the ring.
Ray Douglas: And his opponent. From Moncton, New Brunswick, and weighing in at 298 lbs – JUMPIN’ JACK KING!
Jack waives to the crowd as he steps up the stairs and gets into the ring. As he steps in, Donovan takes a powder out, and walks around the ring as King salutes to the crowd. Referee Summits walks over and gives Jack some instructions, but from behind comes Shane, with a big axe handle that rocks the elder King. Summits calls for the bell.
Jim Gunt: Well, we shouldn’t expect anything less from Shane Donovan: taking an –
Mike Rolash: --early advantage in this match, Jimbo, I agree!
Jim Gunt: Well, I was going to say ugly cheap-shot, but that’s the same thing with you, I guess.
Mike Rolash: I’m delightfully consistent, Jimbo!
Shane Donovan laughs at the referee who admonishes him for his crude actions, before waving him aside and raking at Jumpin’ Jack’s back. King writhes a bit and turns around to face his opponent, who tosses a big haymaker of a right hand towards King’s jaw. Jack, however, sees it coming, and throws up his left hand to parry the shot away. Donovan looks positively shocked at this development, and so he doesn’t quite react quickly enough to a frying pan-like slap from King! The force of the blow spins the Man Made Monster around, and as he completes the 360, Jack beckons him to bring it!
Jim Gunt: My god!
Mike Rolash: Uh…Shane’s just…playing possum?
Jim Gunt: Jumpin’ Jack, still has a load of power, and about 80 lbs and 3 or 4 inches on Shane Donovan, Mike – maybe we’ve all misread the situation!
Donovan and King circle each other a moment, with Donovan momentarily checking his mouth to see if the slap had caused him to bleed. Seeing none, he turns his attention back to King, and the two combatants come forward into the centre of the ring with a collar-and-elbow tie-up. King presses his leverage and weight advantage, pushing Donovan back a few steps, before Shane manages to pivot, locking in a side headlock.
Shane wrenches on the hold a moment, a bit of confidence returning to his face, before it drains away as Jack manages to shoot him off into the ropes. On the rebound, he runs head-long into King, and in his attempt to tackle the larger man, he simply collides and falls backwards himself! Jack stands with a smug smile on his face and invites Donovan back to his feet. Shane does so tentatively, and seemingly with King’s consent, he goes into the ropes again. History repeats itself, as when Shane leaps into another attempted shoulder block, he bounds off of his larger opponent like oil to water. Shane pounds the mat, and gets up again, this time running into the opposite set of twine before crossing the ring, hitting the other set of ropes, and going for the shoulder block one more time. On this occasion, Jack sidesteps a bit and lands a short left-handed jab, which rocks Shane, before taking him over with a side-headlock.
Jim Gunt: A bit of old-school ring awareness from King!
Mike Rolash: Yeah, well, I think that slap and that punch may’ve woken Shane up, Jimbo. If Jack wants to get out of this in one piece, he’s gonna want to finish things early.
Jim Gunt: Woken him up? Donovan’s on the mat here, Mike!
Mike Rolash: For now! Do you really think that this match is going to go King’s way if Shane can weather this early onslaught?
Jim Gunt: Well, you may be right, but I’m starting to wonder if Shane actually can weather Jack’s early rally here as…wait, cover!
As Donovan tries to wriggle his way from Jack’s grip, he indeed gives up his back, which Jack rolls with, covering Donovan’s shoulders while maintaining his side headlock grip!
ONE!
Shoulder’s up!
Donovan manages to roll his weight back, shifting his left shoulder off the mat, and uses a bit of that forward momentum to get to his stomach. Jack manages to maintain the hold, transitioning to a bulldog headlock. Shane pushes himself up to his knees, relieving some of the pressure, and manages to bring both himself and King to a bit more of a vertical basis. Donovan aims a few elbow-strikes at King’s back and manages to loosen Jack’s grip a bit. Seizing the moment, Donovan shoves Jack towards the corner.
King hits the turnbuckles hard, and Shane follows him in, hitting a clothesline in the corner. Donovan then whips Jack across the ring, sending the big man hard into the opposite turnbuckle. The Man Made Monster rushes across the ring and hits another clothesline, and again whips King across to the opposite end of the ring.
Mike Rolash: What did I tell you, Jimbo? Shane Donovan – The Man Made Monster – is on top and it’s only a matter of time.
Jim Gunt: Well, I have to say, it’s not a shock that…oh, wait!
After shooting King in, Donovan follows up once again with a clothesline, but instead gets caught by a rushing King, who goes low and sweeps Donovan upwards, and rushes into the turnbuckle! King drives his shoulder into Donovan’s midsection, once, twice, and then backs up after the third. Donovan coughs and sputters a bit as King does a couple of jumping jacks, and rushes in, hitting a huge splash in the corner!
Jim Gunt: BIG SPLASH FROM JUMPIN’ JACK KING!
Mike Rolash: Oh! Jumpin’ Jack! I get it!
Donovan crumples out of the corner, and Jack presses his advantage. Lifting Shane up by his hair, Jack scoops him up, and tosses Donovan across to the centre of the ring. Shane crashes to the mat, and grabs at his back, but isn’t given much quarter, as King follows up with a measured elbow drop. Donovan writhes in pain but, again, isn’t given a moment’s rest, as King hits a big running senton, and follows it up with a cover!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Shane manages to kick out, and rolls away from King, as Jack checks with the ref that he did only get two. Using the ropes to steady himself, Donovan gets to his feet and unfortunately comes face-to-face with Jack, who quickly grabs him, and slams him down with a belly-to-belly suplex! King pops up to his feet, and does a few jumping jacks, and points to the corner, signalling the Jumpin’ Jack Splash!
Jim Gunt: The end may be near, Mike!
Mike Rolash: I think I’m gonna be sick.
Jim Gunt: Try to imagine a cross body block off the top rope from a 300 pound man, folks, and you’ll have an idea of what’s coming for Shane Donovan. That’s the Jumpin’ Jack Splash, and Jack King is about to do it in the most famous arena in Japan!
The Tokyo fans cheer heartily as Jack points to the corner and makes his way to the corner and climbs to the top rope. King stands and waits, perched on the top rope, as The Man Made Monster slowly gets to his feet. Donovan turns around, and before King can launch himself forward, Shane drops down and rolls out of the ring. The crowd obviously isn’t thrilled with this, as Donovan walks around the ring, and goes to the timekeeper’s area, grabbing his jacket, and begins to leave the ringside area. Jack King drops down off the top rope and starts to follow him as Donovan starts to go up the ramp.
Jim Gunt: Well, isn’t this typical – Shane Donovan faced with a fair fight is turning tail and running.
Mike Rolash: He’s being smart, Jimbo – something I’d never accuse you of.
Donovan waves off the crowd, flipping them a few fingers as he makes his way up the ramp, but King is in hot pursuit. As Donovan gets about halfway up the ramp, King catches up to him and grabs him by the left arm to spin him around. Donovan turns, but aims a thumb to the eye of King, causing the big man to recoil in pain.
King backs off, and Donovan drops his jacket with a cruel smile on his face. King turns and blindly swings, and misses, with a right hand. Donovan easily stays out of the reach of King’s wild shots, and slips in a few jabs of his own, pushing King backwards towards the ring. Jack rubs his eyes to try and get his vision back and seems to momentarily do so as the two make their way back to the ringside area. Rushing headlong, at Donovan, King throws a big lariat at Donovan, but Shane drops down with a drop toehold, sending King face-first into the steel steps with a cruel thud!
Jim Gunt: It was only a matter of time till Shane Donovan took –
Mike Rolash: --advantage of his superior physique and intellect!
Jim Gunt: No, I was going to say another ugly cheap shot.
Mike Rolash: Ah. I’m not really good at finishing your sentences, am I Jimbo?
Donovan tosses King in the ring and quickly follows up with a cover.
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Jumpin’ Jack clearly has some fight left, as he manages to lift up a shoulder and stop Summits’s count. Donovan wastes no time, and quickly mounts his larger opponent and rains down short right hands on his forehead. The rabbit punches take their effect quickly, and soon Donovan’s hand is covered with the bright red blood of Jack King.
Shane gets to his feet and lets out an evil laugh as he wipes his hand clean on his chest, leaving a streak of red across his flesh. Jack manages to sit up a bit but is quickly caught by a well aimed shin-kick to the chest which knocks him back down again. King rolls over to his side and then, as he kneels, facing away from Donovan, The Man Made Monster spins, hitting a rolling discus elbow strike to the back of King’s head. Donovan shoots the half and covers.
ONE!
TWO!
NO!
Jim Gunt: Shane Donovan pressing his advantage as Jack King wears the dreaded crimson mask!
Mike Rolash: Shane has struck first blood against two Kings so far, Jimbo – and just think – it’s all Jarvis’s fault!
Jim Gunt: Oh, come on! You can’t buy into that malarkey from Shane Donovan!
Mike Rolash: I bought into it like I bought your mother dinner last night, Jimmy!
Donovan admonishes Clark Summits a bit for the speed of the count, but before the referee can even confirm that it was properly timed, Donovan has gone back to work on King. Rolling him over to his stomach, Shane drives both of his elbows into the middle of Jack’s back, and then shoots in a hard knee strike to King’s ribs. King writhes in agony as Donovan hits a second, sending him rolling towards the ropes.
Jack rolls onto the apron and begins to stir, grabbing at the middle rope to hoist himself up. Shane lazily tracks his movements, obviously unconcerned despite King’s earlier dominance. As Jumpin’ Jack manages to get to one knee, Donovan bounds off the opposite set of twine and hits a low drop-kick square to the left temple! Jack crumples and falls to the outside of the ring, and Donovan moves to follow. As he steps between the ropes, the Japanese crowd hurls their abuse at Donovan, which causes Shane to stop, smirk, and step back into the ring. He motions to Summits to begin the count!
Jim Gunt: Well, that might just be it.
Mike Rolash: If that broken old man has any sense, he’ll stay down!
ONE!
TWO!
King, obviously rocked, is barely stirring at ringside. Blood drips from the wound above his right eye, pooling on the ringside mats, as Shane hoists himself onto the top rope, laying lazily like he’s in a hammock. The Japanese crowd is beside themselves, booing the Man Made Monster as he cackles wildly.
THREE!
FOUR!
King manages to roll over to his back, and he blinks a bit as he stares up into the lights. A “LET’S GO JACK” chant starts up meekly at first, which perhaps propels him to roll over again, and push himself to his hands and knees.
Jim Gunt: Miraculously, Jack King is starting to stir, Mike!
Mike Rolash: Just like…
Jim Gunt: JUST LIKE YOUR MOM LAST NIGHT! BOOM! BEAT YOU TO IT!
FIVE!
SIX!
King rests an elbow on the ring apron, trying to muster up the strength to get to his feet and back into the ring. Incredulous at King’s temerity, Donovan pops off his perch and looks down at the stirring King with a mixture of annoyance and disbelief.
SEVEN!
EIGHT!
Jim Gunt: CAN HE BEAT THE COUNT?!
Mike Rolash: HE SHOULDN’T BOTHER!
NINE!
With a burst of speed, and perhaps his last surge of energy, Jack manages to just slide into the ring as Summits reaches the nine count! Donovan gives him no quarter, however, as he leaps across the ring with a snapping elbow drop before covering him for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR--NO, FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Jim Gunt: YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT HE FORGETS SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTALS!
Donovan pounds the mat in frustration, and gets in Summits’s face, incensed that the referee didn’t count the three! As Donovan grabs at the referee’s shirt, Summits kicks at the bottom rope to indicate the fair break. Meanwhile, be it a second wind or a surge of adrenaline, Jack is back on his feet, sending the Tokyo Dome into a fit of pandemonium!
With Donovan’s attention still firmly affixed on the referee, the colour seems to drain from his face as he feels a hard tap on his shoulder. He spins around tentatively and looks King in the eyes! Jack pounds at his chest like a rabid gorilla and easily parries away a right hand from Shane, before responding with a big right hand of his own! Donovan rocks backwards a bit, stunned, before stepping forward into a left jab! King winds up, and hits another right haymaker, which pushes Shane into the ropes. King presses his advantage, and shoots Donovan off with an Irish whip.
On the rebound, Jack throws a big lariat that would be likely to knock Donovan’s head clear off, but luckily for the Man Made Monster, Shane manages to duck. He continues to bound off of the opposite set of ropes, and leaps up for a big hurricanrana, but as he rotates, Jack manages to catch him, and hoist him back up for a big powerbomb! As he does so, Donovan manages to pop himself over King’s shoulders rather than crashing to the mat, and quickly turns, locking on a sleeper hold on the big man. King wisely slips his grip to the side, and arcs back with a huge back suplex!
Jim Gunt: BACKDROP DRIVER FROM KING!
Mike Rolash: KICK OUT, SHANE!
Indeed, as Donovan’s neck and back crash to the mat, King manages to secure his grip around Shane’s midsection and bridges for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
NO!!
At the last second, Shane just manages to kick out. Jack begs the referee’s attention, certain that he had his younger opponent on that occasion. This momentary lapse in attention gives Shane just enough time to regain his bearings, and as Jack gets to his feet, he’s trapped in a full nelson. Donovan hoists King up and twists, hitting a single arm DDT in mid-air!
Mike Rolash: THANK GOD! MILLENNIAL DESCENT!
Spent physically, Donovan doesn’t go for his dragon sleeper, the Clincher, but instead collapses next to his downed opponent.
Jim Gunt: HE CAN’T TAKE ADVANTAGE, MIKE!
Both men down, Clark Summits starts to count.
ONE!
Both men begin to move slowly. Being the lesser winded of the two, Donovan is the first to roll to his side and begins to hoist himself upwards. Before the referee can count to two, he’s up to his feet, and controls Jack to his feet with a front facelock. He quickly transitions to controlling the wrist, and with a malevolent glean in his eye, crosses behind King, straitjacketing his left arm across his chest.
Mike Rolash: OH BRILLIANT!
Jim Gunt: Well, this is as clear a message as Donovan can send to Jarvis as he sets up the Straightjacket Suplex.
“IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT, JARVIS,” screams Donovan, as he reaches to cross King’s other arm across his chest. He isn’t able to get a hold, however, and in a fluid motion, Jumpin’ Jack spins round and unfurls himself before hitting an enormous short-arm lariat!
Jim Gunt: KING SCORES WITH THE LARIATOOOOOOOOOOO!
The Japanese crowd roars its approval at the move, which brings King to his feet immediately. He lets out a primal scream and signals again to the top rope! As Donovan slowly gets to his feet, King mounts the ropes and climbs slowly to the top turnbuckle. Shane gets to his feet, and turns around as King leaps through the air!
Jim Gunt: JUMPIN’ JACK SPLASH!
Mike Rolash: WAIT!
Jim Gunt: OH NO!
As King soars through the air, Donovan dives out of the way, while grabbing Clark Summits by the arm and dragging him directly into the path of the oncoming freight train in the guise of Jack King! The referee crumples under Jack’s weight, and King grabs at his hair in disbelief and panic-stricken grief at the errant splash.
Mike Rolash: RING THE BELL! OBVIOUS DISQUALIFICATION!
Jim Gunt: Well, you’ve got to believe that--
Mike Rolash: -- THAT KING KNEW HE COULDN’T BEAT SHANE DONOVAN SO HE LASHED OUT AT THE REFEREE!
Jim Gunt: --No, that it was an obvious mistake…King looked poised to…MY GOD!
In the commotion, Shane slides to the outside and grabs a chair from the ringside area. A cruel crack is heard as Donovan slides back into the ring and aims a vicious shot at Jack’s back. The bell rings frantically as Donovan tosses the chair to the ground, and spits at King, who falls to his knees.
Jim Gunt: Well, this match is being called off…I’ve received word that it’s going to be a no contest here…as…
Mike Rolash: OH GOD YES!
Donovan quickly grabs King by the waist and hoists him up to his feet again, before crossing both arms and hoisting him backwards with a devastating Straightjacket Suplex on the steel chair! The bell rings again, frantically, as the Japanese crowd boos loudly. Donovan wastes no time in transition, and quickly gets to King’s head and neck, jockeying his position and locking in the Clincher in the center of the ring as the time keeper pounds on the bell.
Jim Gunt: THIS MATCH IS ALREADY OVER! SOMEBODY STOP THIS!
Shane Donovan: TAP! TAP OUT YOU OLD SON OF A BITCH!
As Shane screams at Jack, it’s clear that the elder King is already unconscious. Donovan cinches in the hold tighter, wrenching back on King’s head and neck to apply the maximum pressure as King simply lies limp. After a few more choice words, shouted into the din of the crowd, Donovan releases the hold, and “High Voltage” by Linkin Park starts up.
Jim Gunt: Well, there’s no winner here, but…
Mike Rolash: You’re gonna try and tell me that Shane Donovan didn’t do everything he set out to do here?
Jim Gunt: …well, yes. I can’t deny that he’s definitely sent a message to Jarvis King, and…
Mike Rolash: Wait, maybe he hasn’t finished yet!
Shane rolls out to the timekeeper’s area where his duster jacket has been replaced and grabs it before rolling back into the ring. The music cuts out as Shane fumbles in his pockets before producing a shiny metal fork and holds it aloft.
Jim Gunt: Oh god…there’s no one to stop him!
Tokyo’s boos are likely audible from several blocks away as Shane turns to face the hard camera.
Shane Donovan: YOUR FAULT, JARVIS. DON’T FORGET THAT.
Shane is barely audible above the crowd as he turns to advance on the prone journeyman wrestler, fork pointed at him. The audible boos change to a cacophony of confusion, as the lights around the Tokyo Dome suddenly cut out!
Jim Gunt: What the?!
Mike Rolash: Hey, it’s just like how Jack’s going to see out of one of his eyes in a few minutes!
As fans fumble to get their cell phones to illuminate the scene, the lights around the arena come back up, and Shane and Jack are no longer alone in the ring, as they’re joined by a dozen men, all wearing Solstice masks! The Solstices stand around Jack King, cutting the big man off from Donovan. Shane drops the fork, a look of confusion in his eyes, as he tries to take in his new reality. The lights cut out again, plunging the arena into darkness.
Jim Gunt: My god! An army of masked defenders!
Mike Rolash: Typical King family! Fight your own battles, Jarvis!
The crowd again excitedly try to see through the darkness what’s happening, but after a moment the lights come back on again, this time presenting a very different scene. Gone are Jack King and all of the Solstices, save one. Referee Clark Summits is being helped to the back by trainers and attendants, as Donovan looks at the solitary masked man across the ring from him.
Anticipation builds a moment as Donovan stands, frozen, across the ring from Solstice, who reaches up and easily undoes the mask’s clasps. He takes the mask off, looking down at the mat, with a mess of black hair obscuring his face. It’s only when he looks up, flicking the hair backwards that the Tokyo Dome comes unglued.
Mike Rolash: Oh god, no.
Jim Gunt: JARVIS KING! THE INTERNET ICON IS BACK!
Shane looks as if he’s seen a ghost, which allows Jarvis a moment to pounce on his former friend with a Thesz Press! King rains down rights and lefts on Donovan before The Man Made Monster can respond at all. Donovan pops his hips and bucks King off. He scrambles to his feet but is met by King’s right foot as The Internet Icon hits a huge superkick which sends Shane over the top rope to the floor and stage below. Shane sprawls and scrambles to his feet, back peddling up the ramp as Jarvis paces around the ring like an uncaged lion! Tokyo roars their approval at the retuning Hall of Famer as he picks up Shane’s duster and tosses it down at the Man Made Monster. Shane, still with a terrified look in his eyes, feels at his jaw as “Hello Timebomb” by Matthew Good Band begins to play, and Jarvis gets on the middle rope, begging Shane to join him in the ring again.
Jim Gunt: RECKONING DAY FOR SHANE DONOVAN MAY BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER! JARVIS KING IS BACK FOR REVENGE, MIKE!
Mike Rolash: …I think I’m going to be sick.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Jace Valentine is shown backstage with a sullen look on his face. Tara Robinson is beside him, attempting an interview.
Tara Robinson: So what’s on your mind tonight, Jace? Your teammates out there are unsure where your loyalties lie. Can they count on you out there?
Jace Valentine: Shut up, Tara. Just shut your damned mouth. This is about more than a match.
Tara Robinson: It's about Vegas Phillips, your lover, too. Right? They've kidnapped her, haven't they?
Jace Valentine: Ryan and his Institute will stop at nothing to win this thing. I'm between a rock and a hard place. I have done the wrong things and I've done things the wrong way. Now it’s time for me to make the sacrifices needed to right *those wrongs. Ryan will stop at nothing. Neither will I. Now would you shut up and get out of my way, I have a company to win back.
Tara Robinson: I gotta say, it’s nice to see that fire from you again, Jace.
Jace Valentine: In this kind of match, you'll be seeing plenty of fire from me out there. Keep your eyes glued to the screen, honey.
With that said, Jace begins to walk away until he sees Vegas Phillips standing at the end of the hall.
Jace Valentine: Vegas? What are you doing here? I thought...
Vegas Phillips: I thought you loved me, Jace. I thought you were going to protect me. I thought wrong. They branded me. I belong to the Maker now. It was their Will and their Will was done. You have forsaken me, Jace Valentine.
Vegas delivers a hard slap to the face of Valentine before walking away.
Fade.
Kenny
We cut backstage. We are in a large open space backstage, vehicles moving in and out, staff rushing around with clipboards and wrestlers on their way to the ring. Omega and Eris sit on a large outstretched towel, watching the show on a laptop resting precariously against Eris’ oversized backpack.
Eris: I'm hungry.
Omega: Me too.
Eris: Elijah?
They turn. Elijah is not there.
Omega: He'll join us later. He's off in the locker room doing his thing.
Eris: How is it that every arena you guys visit always had the same, nearly identical, set of disused locker rooms?
Omega: There was an explanation but it fell down a plot hole and was never heard of again.
Eris: Now I'm just hungry and confused.
Omega: Join the club.
Eris: Don't mention Clubs. Club. Chocolate bar. Food.
Omega: If you like a lot of chocolate on a biscuit join our -
Eris: NO! Maybe we could get something delivered.
Omega: Where's nearby?
Eris: Kenny Rogers Roasters.
Omega: The kinky bastard.
Eris: What?
Omega: Kenny.
Eris: What about him?
Omega: He rogers roasters. Sexual deviant that he is. But then, like mummy says, a true gentleman should always be obscene and not herd.
Eris: I'm sure. Anyway. Dinner? Maybe sushi?
Omega: As if there'll be anywhere near here that does sushi.
Eris: We're in Tokyo…
Before they can continue, Caledonia passes by, on her way to get ready for her match. She pauses, glancing at the two of them.
Caledonia: Eris. Good to see you. Enjoying the show?
Eris: Looking good so far. You ready for the match?
Caledonia: As I'll ever be. How you holding up?
Eris: Still healing but, getting there.
Caledonia: Good to know.
Caledonia glances from Eris to Omega and back.
Caledonia: Anyway. Nice seeing you Eris.
Caledonia walks away. As she leaves, Omega calls after her.
Omega: Cali!
She stops, does not turn.
Omega: I don't expect you to forgive me, nor my lover. We did what we did, and in the same situation I can't say we wouldn't again. But I am sorry. For everything you've been through. And good luck tonight. I mean it.
Caledonia turns. Her expression is one of pure, cold fury.
Caledonia: Go to hell.
Caledonia turns and marches away without a second thought. Omega and Eris watch her leave, Eris shocked, Omega heartbroken.
Fade.
Tag Team Title Match
The Lost Boys © (Dean Coulter & Sam Braxton)
Vs.
The Coalition (Autumn Raven & Silas Artoria)
The arena lights go off. Silence deafens the Tokyo Dome, before static briefly flashes on the screen. The static timing then fractures; each LED screen and the main titantron flashing brief moments of static at sporadic times. Light trickles of music join the noise, also in brief flashes. “Deadlihood” trickles in, then “Arousal”, then the speed of the flashes gets faster and faster to the point that they all mesh together in incomprehensible noise.
Darkness. It all stops. The titantron shows two silhouettes back to back. Shrouded in darkness, the two of them chuckle lightly for what feels like a minute. The deathly silence returns.
Silas Artoria: It feels good to be home.
Darkness.
A thunderous beat starts playing, the lights flicker with the beat. The music of “Breakin’ Outta Hell” intensifies, before the screams kick in. Lights turn on, and out come Autumn Raven and Silas Artoria to a chorus of cheers. The two admire the crowd, both dressed in white with red lining on their usual outfits. The two stay on the stage, before Silas raises his arm to Autumn. She turns around, smiles a toothy grin, and meets the arm. The two rush to the squared circle, slide in, and dash to opposite ring posts. They ascend, and they greet the Japanese fans.
Jim Gunt: He said they paid money to see them! He railed on management for putting their ownership conflict as close to the main event as they could, and he openly declared war of the CWF card structure. He said that this is the main event, and that if they were placed elsewhere, that their battle for the CWF Tag Team Championship would steal the damn show!
The music starts to fade, and the two step down from the turnbuckles. The music was now silent, as the audience’s chants got louder and louder.
“Ganbatte” they chant, and Silas couldn’t help but soak in the admiration of a returning athlete. Autumn is more confused, and starts whispering to Silas.
Autumn Raven: What are they saying?
Silas Artoria: Good luck. Do your best.
Autumn smiles, then the ring goes dark.
“A Slow Descent” begins to play, and out comes Sam Braxton. Jacket on, tag belt on, no smiles, just the stern expression targeting the Harbingers in the ring. Dean Coulter emerges, also wearing his tag belt, and Sam pulls down his hood. The two stare at the ring, before Sam begins his sprint to the centre. Dean strides down to join him, and they ascend the turnbuckles. The look at the crowd, fingers interlocked, then they descend. The music stops, and the two of them take off their belts. They look at their opponents with unrivalled hatred, as they hand the belts to the official.
Jim Gunt: No showboating, no smiles. Just two SOB’s from Australia wanting to unleash hell. Dean came out at the last Evolution, and said that he wanted this match to be no disqualification. He said he wanted to go all the way, almost dissect the two of them, and with the tag titles on the line, you bet your asses he’s going to ensure Silas and Autumn stay down. No love or respect exchanged, we’re going to be in for one hell of a fight. Ray Douglas with the announcement.
Ray Douglas: The following contest scheduled for one fall is a No Disqualification Tag Team Championship match! Introducing first, the challengers.
Silas looks smug as he and Autumn slowly walk to the centre of the ring.
Ray Douglas: With a combined weight of 345 pounds. They are the Beautiful Psychopath, and the Psychotic Aristocrat. AUTUMN RAVEN, and SILAS ARTO--
Silas is lunged forward as Dean batters the back of his head. Autumn and Sam charge in and seperate the two to their respective corners. Ray Douglas escapes the ring. Sam and Autumn hold Dean and Silas back respectively, the two trying to break free as they lock eyes.
Jim Gunt: Dean couldn’t wait to get his hands on Silas, now he wants blood before the bell rings!
Mike Rolash: Trying to make it a no-contest so he can keep the belt!? What a coward!
Jim Gunt: I think it’s more to do with their animosity than anything. Dean looks like he wants to kill him!
Silas and Dean continue to try and break free of their partner’s grasp, until assigned referee Trent Robbins goes to the two corners and whispers something in each of their ears. They cool off slightly through gritted teeth, and Trent calls for the bell.
Ding.
Silas and Dean are let loose! Stiff right arms! Silas getting the advantage! Whips him to the ropes! Dean bounces off the ropes. Big boot and he’s on the mat! He sits up and crawls backward, just as Silas turns to the audience and raises his arms. The audience applauds, as Silas’ smile widens. He laughs, just as he approaches Dean. Kick to the head by Dean, back on his feet, and the two grab each other. Silas is pushed back to the ropes.
Tag!
Dean keeps his grip on Silas against the ropes, but Autumn rolls him up!
ONE!
TWO!
SUPERKICK by Sam staggers Autumn backward, and Dean returns to his feet.
Jim Gunt: And now the two sides come face to face since Evolution. No limits! No disqualification! Just one pinfall and submission by any means nesses-- AND THEY’RE UNLEASHING ON EACH OTHER. Dean with Silas, and Sam with Autumn.
Silas breaks the hold. HARD CHOP TO THE THROAT and Dean staggers back.
Mike Rolash: Learning lessons from their main event match a few weeks ago.
Jim Gunt: And just like that main event, look at Dean!
Dean staggers back to his corner and spits out blood. Silas turns his focus on Sam. Irish whip to the ropes. DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE LARIAT! Autumn looks at Sam, before returning her look to Silas. She points to Sam, then to Dean. Silas nods and points to Dean. Silas exits the ring, and Autumn charges at Dean. Double knees to the turnbuckle! She drags Dean to the centre of the ring, for the cover.
ONE!
TWO!
Kickout! Autumn flips him over into a NEVERMORE! DEAN IS LOCKED IN THE HORRIFIC SUBMISSION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RING! Dean is wide-eyed as Autumn cackles loudly in delight!
Autumn Raven: HURTS DOESN’T IT? HURTS BEING HUMILIATED DOESN’T IT?
Dean is shaking, trying to reach the ropes, the Autumn keeps him in position! Dean coughs, blood seeping from Autumn’s hands that cinch the mouth and nose! Dean grabs Autumn’s hands, but she tugs him further back! His hand is shaking, it’s raising!
Mike Rolash: Is he going to tap already!? Is he going to submit ALREADY!?
Dean’s hand rises….and it flies down to tap--
Sam grabs the hand before it reaches the mat, and spin kicks the back of Autumn’s head! The hold is broken. Sam kicks Autumn out of the way before focusing his attention to Dean.
Sam Braxton: I’ll take care of these gonzos, right?
Dean catches his breath, and nods positively. Sam picks up Dean and throws him towards their corner. Dean hits it lightly, before Sam slides out and reaches the same corner.
Tag!
Sam is in! Beeline to Autumn. He picks her up to her feet, chop! Autumn turns around in recoil, and Sam grabs her head. Neckbreaker! Cover.
ONE!
TWO!
Kickout. Sam picks up Autumn and whips her to the corner. Hard bounce, Sam grabs her head and holds it under his arm. Autumn breaks out, CLAW IN THE N--Sam catches it. Autumn goes for a kick to the head! Sam rolls around, the foot missing the head! Ankle lock! Autumn screams and looks at her corner. Silas is holding out his arm for a tag, but it’s too far away! Autumn is clutching her hair, but then looks at Sam, gritting his teeth. Her other foot kicks towards him!
LOW BLOW! Sam recoils to his knees, holding his crotch as Autumn raises to her feet, cackling as her options opened up. She approaches Sam, who looks up at her as his hands keep a grip on his crotch. A light, insulting slap to Sam, and Autumn steps backwards towards her corner. She blows him a kiss, and tags out. She exits the ring. Silas engages Sam, as Autumn eyes Gunt and Rolash with a toothed grin.
Mike Rolash: Get your hand off my lap, Jim!
Jim Gunt: Sorry.
Autumn approaches the ring apron and looks behind the skirting. One hand in, several chairs out. Sam delivers a stiff right arm to Silas, who staggers. Another right arm, he keeps staggering. Sam charges towards the ropes. Bou--
SMACK!
Jim Gunt: Wow! Autumn delivered that chairshot so hard you could hear it from space!
Sam staggers forward, dealing with the sudden strike of the chair, and bumps into Silas. Arms hooked, a vicious DDT by Silas. For the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT! Silas looks at Sam as he clutches his head, before he looks at Autumn and slowly smiles at her. Autumn smiles back, and returns her attention to the chairs. One by one she props up the chairs.
Jim Gunt: What the hell is she doing?
Mike Rolash: This isn’t the time for musical chairs Autumn!
Jim Gunt: I don’t think that’s what she’s going for. Look!
One by one, Autumn stacks the chairs; a twisted, painful structure emerges from the unremarkable furniture. Seconds pass. The structure towers just over the ring. Autumn jumps on the apron to examine her masterpiece, and turns to see Sam charging towards her. She pulls the top rope down, he goes ove--No! He narrowly grabs the ropes and lands on the outer apron. He stands up, Autumn executes CLAW OF THE NI--He grabs her foot, and yanks her forward. She lands awkwardly on the apron on her back, eliciting a scream from her. Silas charges towards Sam’s position, hard elbow to the aristocrat. The Australian eyes the ring post behind him, and sprints towards it. One, two, three steps, small jump that centralises himself, a MOONSAULT ON SILAS! The Canadian crashes down, for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
TH--
KICKOUT. Sam sits up, exhausted and sweating, and Silas starts to sit up, clutching his shoulder after having taken the brunt of the moonsault. Sam stands up, as does Silas. Sam grabs his opponent, and whips him to the other side. Bounce, big boot and Silas’ head smacks the mat, and he rolls out. Sam chuckles to himself, before seeing Dean stand up.
Sam Braxton: Hey Deano!
Dean looks at Sam, who points at the crawling Silas. Dean smiles, and goes on the other side of the ropes as Sam darts towards him.
Tag!
Sam darts to the opposite ropes, bounce, sprint back. TOPE CON HILO AND SAM CRASHES ON SILAS. Dean jumps on the ringpost nearby. FROG SPLASH! Dean jumps back up, spits the remaining blood out, and screams at the top of his lungs. He slaps Sam’s chest who then returns the gesture. They’re fired up! Dean and Sam grab Silas and throw his limp body back in the ring. Silas tries to crawl, but Dean and Sam are close behind! Sam sits Silas up, and lightly slaps his face. Dean positions himself at the front, Sam behind. Dean shoot kicks him, Silas screams in pain. Sam kicks his lower back, and Silas jolts up and screams even louder. Dean kicks him again, Sam kicks him again! Front! Back! Front! Back! Front! And his back again!
Sam Braxton: BANG!
AND A SIMULTANEOUS KICK TO SILAS’ HEAD! Sam turns his back and raises his hands in glory, as Dean goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR--
AND AUTUMN DIVES IN FOR THE SAVE! Sam turns around! But Dean stomps on Autumn and shuffles her out as quickly as she jumps in. Dean turns back around, and he and Sam chuckle. Dean grabs Silas’ head, but Silas slaps his arms away. HIS CANE!
Thwack!
Dean screams as he falls to his knees. Silas turns around quickly and sees Sam charge towards him!
Thwack!
Jim Gunt: OH GOD AND A CANE SHOT TO SAM’S HEAD!
Mike Rolash: And what a shot that was! His cane’s shattered! Excellent smuggling from Autumn!
Jim Gunt: And it’s devastation is visible! His head is busted open!
Silas struggles to stand, and falls on one knee before discarding the remains of his cane. He looks at Sam, laughing at his results, as the latter bleeds profusely.
Silas Artoria: Hey Autumn!
Autumn stands up with the support of the ropes, clinging onto her lower back. Silas smiles sadistically as he points to Sam, and points to her demonic chair structure. Autumn gets in the ring, and the two drag Sam to his feet. His head between Autumn’s legs. Powerbomb position! Silas grabs Sam to control his direction. They carefully walk towards the ropes next to the chair structure, but then stop.
Mike Rolash: The hell? Why did they stop? Throw him!
Silas turns around. Dean is grabbing hold of one of their feet each. They struggle to get further forward, but soon turn around. SAM IS POWERBOMBED ONTO DEAN. Silas and Autumn stagger back after the effort, and take a look at the two people writhing in pain on the floor. Silas checks his ankles, Autumn jumps lightly on the spot, though did hold onto her lower back, and they go to grab the Lost Boys. Autumn throws Sam out of the ring, and Silas picks up Dean. He lifts him on his shoulder, and runs towards the furthest ringpost. Lawn dart, and Dean grabs his face as he crawls on his knees. Silas puts his head between is knees, and his arms around Dean’s waist.
Autumn Raven: Wait!
Silas turns around, and sees Autumn outside the ring. He looks confused, but Autumn simply smiled maniacally and slowly lifted a table up. Silas joined her smile, and lets go of Dean. Simple roundhouse kick to Dean’s head, and he approaches Autumn with the table. He lifts the table up and props it against the turnbuckle. He leans against it to test the sturdiness. It doesn’t buckle, but Autumn jumps up on the apron beside him.
Jim Gunt: Oh come on! Barbed wire!? Wasn’t the cane enough?
Mike Rolash: No DQ’s Jim, anything goes and I say LET THEM BLEED!
The two start to wrap the table with the sharp wire. It’s stable, and the two join their arms in their success. They hear a noise behind them. Sam is dragging himself up, using the apron to support himself.
Autumn sighs, and exits the ring. She starts to sprint, around the corner, towards Sam like a bullet! Sam grabs her shoulder and FORCES HER INTO THE RING POST! Autumn crashes to the floor, as does Sam, but Autumn clutches her shoulder and screams at the top of her lungs. She convulses and rolls towards the barricade to support herself.
Silas purses his lips, and clutches his fist, but takes a deep breath, and returns his attention to Dean. Head grabbed, Dean picked up, lawn dart position. Silas walks to the centre of the ring, turns to face the barbed table, and starts to run towards the painful invention.
Dean shakes out! He drops to his feet behind Silas! Push! Silas’ foot kicks out in front, stopping his motion. Hard elbow to Dean. He staggers around, and Silas grabs his waist to perform a german suplex to the table. Dean flails, and he falls back to his feet. Second attempt, Dean flails again. Hard elbow to Silas, grip broken. Superkick! Silas staggers back. Dean runs towards the opposite turnbuckle. He points to Silas, and charges toward hi--CLOTHESLINE! Dean crashes down as Silas tilts his head up and screamed loudly. He looks back down and--
Jim Gunt: SPEAR! A SPEAR BY SAM!
The two fly through the air and they crash through the barbed table. Sam rolls out quickly, but Silas stays embedded in the table. His eyes are wide and his breathing is heavy; his arms and jaw shaking from the impact. He lifts his arm weakly in the air to grab nothing.
Jim Gunt: And the shock of the barbed wire overwhelming the aristocrat! His back thoroughly embedded in splinters and metal! Good god!
Mike Rolash: I don’t think this is what he had in mind when he said they were going to steal the show! He’s going to need goddamn stitches after this match!
Autumn weakly climbs into the ring and starts to crawl towards the shook Silas. Dean sits back up, and Autumn promptly kicks his head. She reaches Silas, grabs his hand, and drags him out of the debris. She struggles in dragging the man, aiming to get him to their corner, as the stream of blood from his back creates a red track between the opposing posts. She slumps him in front of the corner, and jumped to the other side of the ropes.
Tag!
Autumn jumps in, but falls to her knees as she drags herself to Dean. She grabs him, and lifts him to his feet. Right arm strike, Dean delivers a receipt,. Autumn delivers a harder strike, enough for Dean to stagger backward.
Tag!
CLAW IN THE NIGHT TO DEAN AND HE SLUMPS OUT OF THE RING! MOONSAULT FROM SAM--NO! Autumn stepped back! Sam lands on his feet! PELE KICK TO AUTUMN AND SHE STAGGERS! He runs to the ropes, bounce, TORNADO DDT! Sam for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THRE--
KICKOUT! Sam gets up, drags Autumn to her feet, and whips her to the ropes. Bounce, arm drag, KICK TO THE HEAD BY AUTUMN! She rises to her feet, and shakes her head. CHOP! Sam strikes Autumn. CHOP! A receipt! CHOP! Sam replies in kind! CHOP! Autumn returns the favour! CHOP! Again! CRACK! And a stiffer one that sends Sam staggering backwards. Autumn grins at the pained opponent, and sprints towards the ropes behind her. Bounce, she charges at high speed towards Sam. Sam steps forward, and grabs her waist to lift her up. She flies above him, and the ropes to--
Jim Gunt: GOOD GOD!
Mike Rolash: JESUS CHRIST!
Autumn crashes into her monstrous structure and the chairs crash down on top on her; the noise of broken and falling chairs echoing throughout the entire Tokyo Dome. Sam looks at the mess he made while he lays down, and chuckles at the destruction he has just caused.
But Silas is still on the apron, and through the exhaustion and bleeding, drags himself to the pile of chairs. Clark starts to count.
ONE!
Silas reaches the chairs and struggles to keep to his knees.
TWO!.
He grabs hold of a chair before Dean spots them from the other side of the ring.
THREE!
One chair thrown to the side as Dean starts staggering around the ring.
FOUR!
Another chair grabbed as Silas continues using his last drops of energy.
FIVE!
Dean has turned a corner, and Silas is in his sights!
SIX!
Dean starts charging. He quickly picks up speed. BASEBALL DROP KICK TO SI--
SMACK!
Dean lands of the pile of chairs, screaming and clutching his back and feet.
SEVEN!
Dean rolls off the pile of chairs. Silas returns his attention to the pile on Autumn.
EIGHT!
Jim Gunt: He’s not going to make it!
Mike Rolash: Is this going to end on a goddamn countout!?
Silas picks up the next chair, then looks at the pile still on Autumn. Still a lot to go, and his shocked face looks at the assigned referee.
NINE!
Silas, with all his energy, leaps towards the apron and--
SMACK!
Jim Gunt: WHAT!?
The chair smacks Trent’s dome, and he collapses onto the ring.
Jim Gunt: YOU CAN’T DO THAT!?
Mike Rolash: SURE YOU CAN!
Jim Gunt: HE’S A CWF OFFICIAL!
Mike Rolash: IT’S NO DISQUALIFICATION, JIM!
The boos from the Japanese crowd showers down as Silas returns to Autumn and the pile she was still within. He screams, and one by one he throws the chairs to the side. Finally he reaches Autumn, and he drags her to the ring apron. He sits her up and lightly slaps her face. She opens her eyes slightly, and locks eyes with him. He nods, she nods, and he drags her back in the ring and into the corner. She slouches, and Silas turns towards Sam.
He grabs the Australian’s hair and drags him up to his feet. Sam breaks the hold and simply smacks his face. Silas lightly staggers, before smiling and turning back ar--
Kick to the gut! Silas curls his stomach in response. Sam kicks the back of his knees! Silas is now down on his kn-- WIZARD OF AUS AND SILAS COMES CRASHING DOWN! Sam returns to his feet and screams at the top of his lungs! He eyes Autumn! He charges towards her, DROPKICK! He turns to see Silas, struggling to maintain himself on the opposite turnbuckle. He charges, and ANOTHER DROPKICK! Back to Autumn, charge, DROPKICK! Back to Silas, DROPKICK! He recentres himself, and sees both Autumn and Silas roll towards the centre of the ring. He turns see the ref still down. Sam drops to examine Trent.
Jim Gunt: And it seems Trent is still out cold! Sam may have the upper hand on Silas and Autumn but with no official, what the hell can he do!
Sam looks back at his opponents, and slides outside the ring. Under the apron--
Jim Gunt: And out comes a man’s best friend, a LADDER!
Sam lifts the ladder up and smiles affectionately at the object. He slides back in and props up the ladder near his opponents. He ascends, turns to face the duo, and points his fingers in the air. Slowly they lower, and now they point to Silas and Autumn as Sam starts to giggle. He leaps from the ladder!
THE FALLING STAR--NO! Sam lands on his backside and recoils in pain. Silas and Autumn had rolled out of the way! They crawl towards opposite corners and drag themselves up.
Silas Artoria: HEY AUTUMN!
Autumn looks at her partner, whom was now slowly raising his arm and towards the sitting up Sam. A toothy grin, she too raises her arm towards Sam. Finger guns to the Australian from both people. They charge towards Sam.
SMACK!
Sam crashes to the floor.
Jim Gunt: WHAT THE HELL DID THEY DO!?
Mike Rolash: From the looks of it, it seem Silas did a charging Knockout, at the same time Autumn executed the dreaded Claw In The Night.
The ordeal is taking its toll on all the athletes as the two Harbingers struggle to stand! Autumn crawls towards Sam and places her arm over his chest. Silas looks at Trent, not even halfway recovered! He crawls over to the ropes facing the curtains and starts shouting.
Jim Gunt: What the hell is he doing?
Mike Rolash: I think I have a good idea what he’s doing!
Denny Davidson emerges and starts sprinting towards the ring.
Jim Gunt: But Trent is assigned as the ref, you can’t just bring any referee to the match without approval!
Mike Rolash: Drastic times call for drastic measures!
Jim Gunt: WE DON’T NEED ANOTHER REF GETTING INVOLVED, MIKE!
Mike Rolash: Then we’ll ask the boss after the match!
Denny slides into the ring, and is counting the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE--
Dean dives and the cover is broken! Autumn is forced to the side as Dean starts to lightly drag Sam towards their corner!
Dean continues dragging Sam towards the corner as Silas looks towards Autumn dumbfounded. Denny focuses his attention to Trent, who starts coming to. Denny swiftly leaves, just as Silas starts to eye him. Dean keeps dragging the knocked out Sam, but stops to look at Silas.
The two just look at each other, before the two slowly rise to their feet. They stagger for a bit, before Silas crosses over to Autumn. He starts dragging her to his corner, and Dean frantically continues to drag Sam to their corner. He props him up, goes to the otherside of the ropes, and sees Trent fully recovered if a little dazed.
Tag!
Dean is in, and he charges towards Silas! Dropkick lunges Silas face first into the turnbuckle. Dean returns to his feet, turns to Autumn. She’s on the overside of the ropes. Jumps on the top rope, MISSILE DROPKICK TO DEAN’S FA--He moves to the side! She rolls and runs towards the ropes. Bounce! Dean executes a lariat! She ducks under! Bounce! Another lariat dodged!
Tag!
Bounce! SPINNING HEEL KICK TO AUTUMN! FOR THE COVER! Trent does nothing! KNOCKOUT TO DEAN! Silas drags Dean back up. Head between legs, electric chair position!
A whistle is heard, and it attracts Silas’ attention. SAM WITH A CHAIRSHOT! Dean falls off the the side as Silas staggers back. Sam charges towards Silas! Jumping hard elbow! Step up Enzuigiri sends Sam packing! Dean returns to his feet. Silas delivers a vicious lariat that sends Dean crashing to the floor, before eyeing the nearby ladder used earlier. He storms to it. He picks it up, heads back to the dazed Dean, and aims the tip of the steel structure towards the Australian’s head.
He swings back, and Sam dives in to push Dean out of the way. Sam and Silas briefly lock eyes, before--
Jim Gunt: Oh CHRIST!
Silas swings the structure forward, hits Sam’s head, and sends him back down to the mat. The Canadian screams, before focusing his attention back to the unsuspecting Dean. He approaches them, holds the ladder high in the air, and clenches his teeth.
But nothing happens. The ladder stays suspended above Silas, as he looks around at the Tokyo Dome audience. They are all showering him with boos, and Silas face turns blank. He continues his look of pure disbelief, his face frozen with fear, and he lowers the ladder. He looks at Dean, then the ladder, then the audience as they continue to show their disapproval. The ground trembles with the bass of the chorus, and Silas simply looks around him, alone.
Silas looks at the ladder, swallows, and throws the ladder to the side; the audience applauding him as he lifts Dean back up.
KNOCKOUT!
Dean slinks to the ground and leans against Silas’ leg. The latter looks down with a somber look on his face. Dean looks up to meet Silas’ eyes, now sorrowful, before definitely slapping him.
Dean Coulter: DO IT!
Silas sighs, and turns him around. Head between legs. Dean is up in the electric chair position. Silas takes a deep breath; Dean does nothing to resist! Silas executes the cutter. FALL OF MAN COMPLETED! Silas for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE--
Sam dives and the match continues! Autumn jumps in!
Jim Gunt: and Sam and Autumn ground and pound! Stiff right arms as they duel on their knees!
Mike Rolash: But neither is the legal athlete!
Jim Gunt: No disqualifications, Mike, and it’s anyone’s guess on who is going to win this match. They used their ammunition, their cannons have turned hot from constant use! But like the battle of the Somme they have not budged an inch.
Sam gets the upper hand! Autumn staggers as Sam stands up! WIZARD OF AUS! Autumn rolls out of the ring!
Silas Artoria: NO!
Sam turns to see Silas charging towards him. SUPERKICK! Silas staggers!
Sam Braxton: DEAN!
Dean sits up slowly and sees Sam dash towards him. He’s lifted up! The two look at each other, then at Silas, all alone. They stare at Silas for seconds, whom looks around and sees Autumn immobile. Silas somberly grits his teeth, then nods. He charges towards Dean! Dean pops him up!
GONE WALKABOUT AS SAM KICKS SILAS’ MIDSECTION IN MID AIR!
Dean rolls Silas on his back and goes for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE--
KICKOUT! Dean stands up and Sam lifts up silas! He whips him to the ropes. Bounce! Sam pops him up!
Cyclone Dean and Silas lands sitting up! Silas looks tranced! He’s completely out of it as the Lost Boys unleash all they have! Dean for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE--
Silas lifts his arm up as Dean struggles to get him to his feet. Sam’s on his knees and is breathing heavily! Dean looks at Sam, with Silas firmly in his grip. His head is forced between Dean’s legs. Sam starts to smile as he staggers towards Dean. Dean lifts up Silas to powerbomb him! Sam and Dean scream as he fiercely slams SIL--
BACKSTABBER FROM SAM FOR THE FINAL DESTINATION!
Jim Gunt: JESUS CHRIST WHAT DID WE JUST SEE!?
Mike Rolash: I thought end was near but Silas is going to need a chiropractor!
Jim Gunt: AND DEAN FOR THE WIN!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Ray Douglas: Your winner, and STILL THE CWF TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! THE LOST BOYS!
Jim Gunt: They fought hard, they broke bones, and their careers have been shortened, but at the end of the day they gave everything they had into this match, and today, they showed the world that they are the best tag team in the world!
Mike Rolash: And it cost Silas and Autumn heavily. They came to tell everyone that they were a threat to the locker room, but that has come crashing down on them. Silas has been humiliated in what he calls his birthplace, and the future is clearly vague for each and every one of them.
Dean and Silas are still on the mat as Trent gave the former their tag belt. Dean’s still laid down, and Silas opens his eyes to look up at the Tokyo Dome lights that hung over them. Sam crawls back in the ring and held onto Dean. He drags them to his knees, and Dean finally grabs hold of the tag team belts. They hold each others heads, as they slowly rose the belts they retained.
Jim Gunt: And there they are, your retaining champions going into the next season.
The Lost Boys lower the bets and start rising to their feet, struggling to make it up. Autumn crawls into the ring and starts to lift Silas to his feet, with him and the man who pinned him soon locking eyes. Only a few meters distance between them. The two maintain their look, before Silas steps forward. Dean soon did the same.
Silas swallowed, and holds out his hand to shake.
Mike Rolash: A peace offering? After what has happened!?
Dean looks at him, then looks at the hand that was offered. He glances at Sam, Autumn, the crowd, and the tag belt he held in his right hand. He looks back at Silas, whom has a sincere look on his face. Seconds pass by, before Dean slaps the hand away.
Jim Gunt: No peace, this war’ll continue.
Silas looks at Dean, slightly shocked, as the latter drops his tag team belt to the floor. Another second passes by, before they step towards each other.
Arms wrapped around each other, before Autumn joins the embrace. The crowd responds positively, as the music of the victors start to play. The embrace continues, before Dean and Silas start to lose their footing. The embrace is broken, before they look at Sam. Sam is hard faced, but ultimately offers his hand. Silas nods, grabs the hand, and embraces the Australian’s shoulder. Pats exchanged before they lose their footing again, and the four of them start carrying each other up the ramp.
Jim Gunt: And that’s the end of that chapter.
Mike Rolash: Turns out all they needed was a place to vent their frustrations. They let their anger out! They unleashed hell on each other!
Jim Gunt: And now their common ground has been found again. Rough edges sanded out, and now they enter the future.
The four athletes stop at the top of the ramp, and one by one they raise their first. Finally disappearing behind the curtain.
It’s My Destiny
Shadow boxing is not normally something we witness Jay Mora doing, but dressed in his ring gear that’s exactly what we are currently watching. He’s lean, his body is glistening and his new, all white ring gear makes him look like a true superstar. Under usual circumstances Jay Mora would be surrounded by women but tonight he was all business. As he continues throwing punches he’s talking to himself, repeating the same phrase “Hit her hard. Knock her out. Chalk her up.” He stops for a moment and looks at the camera with a slick smile plastered on his face.
Marksman: Tokyo!
The fans could be heard letting out a loud cheer as their city is mentioned by the challenger.
Marksman: Shut your fucking mouths while I speak. I’ve got some things I need to get off my chest.
The smirk disappears from Jay’s face as he is all business, all focus.
Marksman: The CWF World Champion right now is sitting somewhere in the arena watching the other matches going on here tonight. She’s watching the Unhinged match. She’s concerned with the competitors in that match. She’s paying attention to Ataxia and Hawkhurst. She cares about the Andersons and the Chefs and all the other bullshit. Well, I don’t. I don’t give a fuck about ANYTHING other than putting her down. She’s overlooking me in order to scout her next opponents and the potential challengers after that. MJ displays a lack of focus that I have never seen from a world champion leading into this match which proved just about everything I said about her.
Jay takes in a deep breath and he tries to relax himself from becoming too angry already.
Marksman: She’s been repeating the same fucking thing since I attacked her at Confliction. Girl power, obsession, she knows me, blah…blah…fucking blah. The only thing worse than listening to her bullshit is listening to her accent come and go throughout her verbal diarrhea.
Jay flexes just slightly whether it from the tension he is feeling in anticipation of the match or just an instinctual show of strength. Jay’s eyes become wide and his face remains expressionless.
Marksman: It is my DESTINY to be the best. TODAY, I will show you my birthright. I will show you that I am the fucking KING in these parts.
He pauses for a moment collecting himself.
Marksman: You’ve been marked you little bitch and I’m not missing.
Fade.
To the Victor Goes the Spoils
Chaolin Sahn, Ryan Sunset and John Mapother are seen in the CWF Corporate office backstage, deliberating over their plans for the Higher, Wire, Fire match later on tonight. Elisha steps through the door, slamming a book down on the table in front of Ryan. The Book of Beginnings and Endings -- the prophecies of Amorality as written by Clyde Pierre.
Ryan Sunset: Very good, my friend. You have done right by the Institute, even as you try to rip control from my fingertips.
Elisha: There is no 'try'. It is my Will, and my Will shall be done.
Ryan Sunset: Well, we will see about that buddy. I'll tell ya what, I'll raise the stakes even higher. I'll spend the next few moments looking over my grandfather's prophecies...and then I will leave the Book up on that balcony with the contracts of both the CWF and the Institute.
Elisha: To the victor goes the spoils.
Fade.
Commercial
The spot shows a man in his thirties running out of an office tower, skipping and jumping down the sidewalk, throwing his arms into the air, ululating and cheering. As the camera cuts to the other side, we see that his face seems stressed despite all the cheering and jubilating. Cut to a steaming cup of coffee and the voiceover of: "Ever experienced periods of extreme exuberance? Trying to find a way down? Come in and grab a cup of Depresso Espresso, good mood evaporation guaranteed!" The commercial finishes with the man sitting at a table, dejected and sombre...
2018
A strange test tube hallway that's filled with a line of people - eyes glossed over like zombies - moving with synchronization into a massive amphitheater; an amphitheater that's already congested with men and women, whose fists are held out towards a massive, glowing projection scream.
Covering most of that scream, is Nerezza's smiling face. These men and women in attendance - those moving into the amphitheater - once citizens of the Earth and how it was, now citizens of Nerezza's movement - willing and ready to take on the Earth of tomorrow, and how it will be.
Nerezza: We convene - with a determination that's unstoppable, that can not be easily equated - that may in fact be understated, but we never believed everyone would understand, right?
The crowd chants like an angry zoo of vicious animals.
Nerezza: They... They can not stop us, however. No one can stop us. This - all of this? All of you? All of me. Every bit of what has become is meant to be, and will always be, for I will not let one of you down. We fight for this revolution, we fight for a brand new generation that eliminates the weak, diminishes those that made us feel inferior, that wanted to put us out of misery with their own misery. We are stronger than we've ever been - we can move mountains! And those Powers... the Powers that Be that want to take Nerezza down...
An unholy matrimony of boos and jeers attack the amphitheater like an influx of rain, sleet, and blurring winds. Nerezza laughs at the thought - looking down at a table he stands at, which is very similar to an altar. We take a look at the men and women still marching through the test tube hallway, only to find that they are being shoved out of the way by a running, angered individual who has an ax in his hand.
Come to think of it, he looks quite similar to any typical Powers that Be. And now we flip back to Nerezza.
Nerezza: We will show NO MERCY. They can not take me - they will not have me - and they will not have YOU.
The individual reaches the innards of the amphitheater, runs right past the crowd, through the venue's floor, and doesn't waste any time throwing the ax towards the screen. This causes time to stop - all of the noise in the venue dissipates. Silence. The individual starts to back away, nodding his head with an adrenaline-induced expression of exuberance of his face until the ax - stops? Yep, it stops - in mid-air, like something out of the fucking Matrix.
And it just sits there, mere inches from the screen, slowly looping in revolutions, while Nerezza studies it through the projection scream. The individual, very likely an informant of The Powers that Be, can't believe his eyes.
Nerezza: They will not overtake us, ladies and gentlemen. Instead? Like everyone that wants a piece of the action in CWF, they will fall to their knees, recklessly pleading for mercy because - that's all they'll have to cling onto when it's all said and done. They won't know what hit them. And when they wake up? This world...
Nerezza laughs, clasping his hands together.
Nerezza: It'll be just a little bit awake. Don't sleep, friends. The new day has begun, and it's time to ask yourself - where will I be when the bombs begin to drop? Have fun with him.
The projection screen shuts down, leaving the informant to nervously turn his head, alarmingly aware of the danger that he was now at the epicenter of. The ax drops to the floor, and the informant immediately tries to gun for it. Unfortunately for him, the Nerezza movement is much too much for him, as he's paraded over, stomped, smothered, beaten to the edge of absolutely no return. We zoom in on the ax, as the screams continue - getting louder and louder - while the blood of a disbeliever begins to spray against the reflective blade.
Fade.
Ladder Match for both Impact Title & Spot in Unhinged Briefcase Match
Dorian Hawkhurst ©
Vs.
Ataxia
Mike Rolash: I was afraid of that Nerezza thing before, but now I’m fearing for my life!
Jim Gunt: Yes, this is getting quite out of hand here, not sure why they allowed him in, especially after what he has been doing in the past few weeks!
Cut to the ring, where several ladders are being brought out towards ringside.
Jim Gunt: Now when Dorian Hawkhurst and Ataxia meet up in a ring, or anywhere else for that matter, it is not just your usual match and tonight has all the makings to become another memorable one.
Cheers from the fans.
Mike Rolash: They gave us this crazy fight at Confliction, spilling out of the ring, through the backstage area and into a bar, this time, though, they are probably going to be standing pretty close to the ring, because there is something on the line that both will not want the other one to have!
Jim Gunt: Yes, not only is Dorian’s Impact Championship on the line, but Ataxia even is offering his spot in the big Unhinged Briefcage triple cage insania that will be our main event later tonight, so that makes this one even bigger than it already would have been. Oh, and did I mention that there will be ladders involved?
The fans give out a huge pop at the mentioning of ladders.
Mike Rolash: I just heard that Blake Church has Dorian backstage!
Quick cut to backstage, where Dorian is on his way to the stage.
Blake Church: Dorian, a few quick words before going out there?
Dorian Hawkhurst: Yes, Ataxia! You have no idea what mistake you made, when you agreed to this match, because not only will you not get your grimy paws on my title, but I will enter those cages tonight and go all - the - way!
With that he turns and continues on his way.
Ray Douglas: The next match is scheduled for one fall and is both for the CWF Impact Championship and also a spot in the Triple Cage match for the Unhinged Briefcase tonight! Coming to the ring first, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, our current Impact champion - The Demon of Sobriety - DORIAAAN HAAAWKHUUURRST!
“Slow Suicide” by Scott Stapp starts to come through the speakers and Dorian steps out through the curtains, holding the Impact title high above his head. The crowd gives him loud cheers, remembering the memorable matches he has been fighting in the past few weeks. He marches down to the ring, stopping next to some of the ladders.
Jim Gunt: What is that? These ladders have some sort of fabric on their sides…
Mike Rolash: They look like...skyscrapers? That is odd.
Jim Gunt: You can say that again…
Mike Rolash: They look like…
Jim Gunt: Mike!
Mike Rolash: Charles State is behind the scenes with Ataxia!
Cut backstage to Charles State holding on to the wall, laughing hard. No sign of Ataxia, though.
Charles State (fighting back tears from laughter): Oh my God, guys, you will not believe this…
Mike Rolash: What is it, Charles?
Charles State: Oh, you’ll see…
Jim Gunt: OK, that does not sound good…
Dorian briefly stops next to the ring, giving his daughter Chloe a hug, who is sitting ringside with Dorian’s girlfriend Morgan. Suddenly a beastly scream comes through the speakers, taking everybody by surprise, but as soon as the dramatic brass section sets in, the crowd goes wild.
Mike Rolash: Isn’t that-
Jim Gunt: Yes, it is the theme music of “Godzilla”, but what-
In this moment a figure in an inflatable Godzilla costume jumps out from behind the curtains and runs down the ramp as fast as his costume would allow.
Ray Douglas: And his challenger, I guess hailing from Odo Island, Japan - GODZILLA!
The crowd is not exactly sure what to think of this bizarre entrance, but once the kaiju emits a maniacal cackle, things begin to become a little clearer.
Mike Rolash: Ataxia?
Jim Gunt: Doesn’t quite look like him, but nothing surprises me anymore…
He runs around the ring, weaving in and out of the ladders, getting tangled up with his tail a few times, but after two or three tries to roll into the ring, again the tail, he manages to get into the ring, where he tries to give Dorian a hug, but the Demon just pushes him away, making Godzilla’s head hang down in sadness.
Mike Rolash: Don’t tell me that he is going to wrestle in that thing, too!?!
Ataxia walks over to the edge of the ring, looking at Mike.
Ataxia: Grympmph!?
Ataxia starts to peel himself out of the costume, revealing his usual mask, but his black tuxedo is sporting a Godzilla print to stay in theme.
Ataxia: Are you nuts? Who in their right mind would wrestle in a Godzilla suit?
Mike Rolash: Well…
Ataxia: Hm? Tell me?
Mike Rolash: Uh, you?
Ataxia: What do you think I am? A loonie?
In the meantime referee Trent Robbins has taken the belt off Dorian and attached it to the hook that is now being raised high above the ring, almost reaching the height of the suspended cage above the ring. Ataxia saunters back into the ring and Robbins gives both wrestler a quick rundown of how this match is going to go down.
Dorian challenges Ataxia to a good old lock-up, but looks like Ataxia has a different idea and puts his head down and charges straight into his opponent, pushing him back a whole two steps before coming to a grinding halt. Right away Dorian picks up Ataxia, whips him up and brings him down in a SIT DOWN POWER BOMB!
Jim Gunt: Whoa, I felt this one right here!
Mike Rolash: That is an early exclamation mark!
Ataxia scrambles away and to his feet, looking at a laughing Hawkhurst, who taunts him to come closer. He carefully obliges, but Dorian anticipates the push and grabs his opponent by the arm, whipping him into the ropes and not allowing him for any time to react levels him with a LARIAT that almost takes Ataxia’s mask off.
Jim Gunt: Dorian really wants to put this one away quickly, we have yet to see any offense from the masked man tonight!
Dorian stands above Ataxia, yelling at him: How do you like me now? Am I still thinking like you?
Ataxia: Uh, yes.
With an increasingly angry look on his face Dorian grabs Ataxia by the mask and yanks him to his feet again. In an attempt to set his opponent up for a powerslam, Hawkhurst lifts Ataxia up onto his shoulder, but the Messiah Pariah wiggles his way down his back and crouching down hits the big man with a shoulder to the back of his knee, bringing him down one notch. Not wasting any time Ataxia goes for the ropes and plants a powerful drop kick right into the chest of Dorian, felling him like a tree.
Mike Rolash: Now that has changed things in the blink of an eye!
Jim Gunt: Well, the match is still young and we all know that Ataxia is one of these people you should never, ever count out, even if they are in pieces across the ring.
Ataxia is on the top turnbuckle, gives a flourish and a bow before leaping off with a perfectly executed SENTON right onto the already hurt chest of Dorian, gracefully rolling off and coming to his feet. He leans over the ropes and cocks his head and waves at Chloe before turning back to his opponent, who is just starting to move. Quick knee to the side of the head as Dorian is getting up, followed by another whip into the ropes and a flying knee, but Ataxia did not account for Dorian dropping to his side and with that from his trajectory, which sees him sail right into the ropes.
Jim Gunt: Ooh, that was an ugly bounce off the ropes, now we have both men down!
Referee Trent Robbins checks on both contenders and starts his count.
ONE!
TWO!
Mike Rolash: What would happen, if we have a double countout? Dorian keeps his title and Ataxia his spot in the main event?
Jim Gunt: Good question, I would assume so.
THREE!
FOUR!
Dorian is back up to one knee, while Ataxia is rolling out of the ring to get to his feet and avoid a direct attack.
Jim Gunt: A high-octane start and now we seem to have a pit stop of some sorts.
Mike Rolash: Good, can someone get me a refill here, please?!
There is some commotion from the opposite side of the ring, where Ataxia is pulling out a ladder from under the ring just as Dorian is dragging the one in front of the commentator tables into the ring himself. Just as Ataxia is trying to slide back in after the ladder, Dorian is using his to ram it right into his opponent’s head before setting it up in the middle of the ring.
Jim Gunt: Oh, he is going for the belt right away!
Given the mat’s wobbliness, the Demon of Sobriety does not seem to be the most comfortable on the ladder, making his way up fairly slowly and falls victim to Ataxia crawling over and shaking it just enough for Dorian to lose footing and fall back down to the canvas. Ataxia uses the ladder to get back to his feet and takes a few steps up the ladder just to jump back down with a foot stomp, trying to make sure to keep Dorian down. Immediately he tries his luck to get up the ladder himself, but sees his attempt foiled when his world suddenly begins to move sideways.
Mike Rolash: Ataxia is going down!
Both ladder and Ataxia hit the top rope, with the latter bouncing back hard, holding his ribs right away, but he refuses to go down. He ducks under a clothesline of Dorian and sensing his opponent going into the ropes, goes for a springboard, but he underestimates the momentum of Hawkhurst and instead of jumping off gets hit by a brutal LARIAT that sends him flying over the ropes to the outside of the ring.
Mike Rolash: I know it is early on in the match, but these two men are really giving it all!
Jim Gunt: They are and that is something that could potentially spell doom on the winner having to go into an even more grueling match later on tonight!
As if he heard this, Dorian is giving the ladder another try. He is almost at the top when Ataxia is right at the apron, grabbing a hold of his ladder and pushing it forward with all his strength, knocking Dorian’s ladder sideways and for the second time Dorian is giving in to gravity!
Jim Gunt: Oh my God! Dorian is down and on top of the other ladder!
Ataxia squeals with glee as he climbs back into the ring and right onto the top turnbuckle. He raises his arm into the air and plants the second SENTON of the night onto Dorian’s chest, who is STILL LAYING ON TOP OF THE LADDER! Apparently forgetting that this is not a normal match, Ataxia goes for the cover before realizing his mistake.
Ataxia yells at Dorian: You could have told me!
Next he pulls the fallen ladder back up into the ring and sets it up against the ring corner. Seeing Dorian still unmoving on the other ladder, he jumps out and grabs a third ladder and opens it up under the belt. Unfortunately for him, getting the third ladder has given Dorian enough time to come to again and before Ataxia manages to set even one foot onto the ladder, he is being rammed aside by a hard shoulder block and into the ring corner. Dorian follows up with a big splash into the corner, but Ataxia rolls out of the way at the last moment, with Ataxia reversing Dorians momentum bouncing back into a fast NECK BREAKER!
Right away Ataxia runs over to the one standing ladder and begins climbing it. As he nears the top, he looks down to make sure Dorian is still down, but to his horror he sees him right at the foot of the ladder with an evil grin on his face. He yells “TIMBEEER” and with all his might heaves the ladder backwards and as the ladder tips, Ataxia tries to jump off to avoid another nasty contact with the ropes, flipping to the outside of the ring, coming to a stop right in front of the spot, where Chloe and Morgan are sitting.
He casually puts his arm on the barricade and says: Oh hello there, hope you don’t mind me taking care of Dory first? Just keep on swimming…
Seeing this, Dorian is right out of the ring, yanking Ataxia away from his family, whipping Ataxia over right into the front of the Japanese commentators’ table. As he walks over, he yells.
Dorian Hawkhurst: You stay away from my family or I will break you in two!
He lifts up the apron and pulls out another ladder, then sets it up like a bridge between the ring and the commentator table.
Jim Gunt: This is not looking good!
Mike Rolash: No, this is not going to end well…
He roughly grabs Ataxia by his mask and brings him up and rolls him into the ring. Following right after, he brings Ataxia to his feet and lifts him up over his head into a GORILLA PRESS and launches him outside ONTO THE LADDER! But Dorian does not have enough, as he goes on top of the turnbuckle, despite having trouble keeping his balance and HE JUMPS OFF! He lands on Ataxia with a BIG SPLASH and the ladder buckles under the impact!
“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”
Jim Gunt: I agree! This was insane! But that’s what you get when you mess with someone’s family!
Dorian is peeling himself off Ataxia, who is hanging in between the ladder’s rungs like a bag of potatoes. Clearly winded, he staggers over to his daughter and assures her that she will be safe before crawling back into the ring. He lays there for a moment or two, trying to catch his breath, before using the ladder to pull himself up. He takes a step up and looks over to where he left Ataxia, but the broken ladder is empty!
Mike Rolash: What the-
Dorian looks around to see, if he can find his opponent and is painfully reminded when suddenly Ataxia’s head appears between his legs with a hard headbutt upwards. The Demon lets out a yelp and falls backwards onto the mat, holding his crown jewels.
Mike Rolash: What the hell was that?
Ataxia: The Balls of Jericho, baby!
He steps over Dorian to return to the ladder, but suddenly Dorian grabs his ankle, preventing him from reaching it. Ataxia tries to stomp on the hand, but as he lifts his foot, Dorian pulls his other foot out from under him, leading to Ataxia crash onto the mat as well. Using the ropes to get upright again, Dorian takes a moment to steady himself and then pulls Ataxia up again. Whip into the ropes, but he misses the clothesline and Ataxia grabs on to his arms and goes for a CRUCIFIX! Dorian reels a bit, but stays on his feet, using the momentum to turn and lets himself fall backwards onto the ladder that is still propped up in the corner!
Jim Gunt: Wow, this match really is taking everything out of these two, how on earth will whoever wins this have the strength to go through three cages and four opponents?
Mike Rolash: Magic. Plain and simple.
Both men are down, Ataxia has let himself fall off the apron to catch a breath, while Dorian is still trying to recover from the low blow and the impact with the ladder. Once again he slowly gets back up with the ladder as his support, but instead of looking upwards towards the title, his attention is drawn outside of the ring again. Ataxia is sitting on top of the barrier in front of his daughter and girlfriend, looking like he is talking to them. Just as he gets out of the ring with steam coming out of his hears, Chloe stands up, takes a step forward and punches Ataxia right in the balls. Dorian stops dead in his tracks as Ataxia slowly keels over backwards and falls onto the thin mats surrounding the ring.
Jim Gunt: Ataxia’s shenanigans will be his downfall, especially if he keeps getting hit in his unmentionables…
Mike Rolash: Balls, Jim, nuts, gonads, they are very mentionable.
Jim Gunt: Just because you like to talk about them does NOT make them any more mentionable, man!
Dorian takes the opportunity right away and clambers up the ladder, but out of nowhere Ataxia has yet another ladder in his hand and with the help of the top rope throws it into the ring, hitting Dorian in the back of the knees and sending him down into the ring and the ladder projectile. before falling to his knees, still reeling from Chloe’s low blow. Dorian is still writhing from his fall, enabling Ataxia to pull himself into the ring and half walk, half crawl over Dorian towards the ladder. Instead of taking the direct route, though, he crawls around the ladder and begins to ascend from the other side.
Mike Rolash: What is he doing?
Jim Gunt: I guess he wants to give Dorian less of a chance to grab him, maybe?
As Ataxia climbs up, Dorian gets to his knees and upon seeing Ataxia almost at the top of the ladder grabs the bottom rung and heaves it up. In a desperate move Ataxia puts his foot on the top and JUMPS OFF!
Mike Rolash: Oh, my God! This is nuts!
Jim Gunt: Ataxia is hanging off the wire with the title!
He manages to grab the title, but it is not opening or breaking the wire, so he is hanging by the belt. Dorian is on his feet, trying to grab Ataxia’s legs to yank him down, but then realizes that if he pulls, the belt probably is going to give, so instead he starts hitting his opponent’s knees in an attempt to have him let go on his own! Trying to avoid the chops, Ataxia lifts his legs up and tries to kick Dorian to keep him at bay. The jerking movements prove too much for the wire anchored in the ceiling and it gives out, with Ataxia clinging to the belt like to a baby, crashing right into Dorian, who goes down hard onto one of the ladders littering the ring, while Ataxia bounces off Hawkhurst and with flailing arms falls backwards onto yet another ladder, leaving both men unmoving for the moment.
Crowd: UWA! HOLY SHIT! UWA!
Jim Gunt: No kidding, this is the maybe most ridiculous ladder match I have ever witnessed!
Mike Rolash: These two men have decimated each other to the point that they both look as if they should be in the ICU rather than a ring and now to think that Ataxia is going to go into a triple cage match later on is ludicrous!
Ray Douglas: The winner, new Impact Champion and still entry into the Unhinged Briefcase triple cage match tonight - ATAAAXIAAAAA!
Jim Gunt: And here comes the cavalry!
Here Comes The Cavalry
The Shadow steps out of the curtains with a worried look on his face. Suddenly a group of Druids bursts through the curtains and rushes down the ramp. While two of them move ladders out of the way, four others pick up Ataxia and move him to the edge of the ring.
Mike Rolash: Whoa, what is happening?
One druid, clad in only a kilt and blue and white war paint moves to Dorian and checks his pulse and pupils. After giving The Shadow a thumbs up, the four other druids pick up Ataxia and carry him up the ramp and through the curtains. After a long look at Dorian in the ring, The Shadow turns and follows the Druids.
Cut to backstage, where the Druids carrying Ataxia are rushing through the corridors to his locker room. They place him on a couch along the back wall, with the kilt-clad druid McLean at his side, checking his vitals and other body parts for injuries. He turns to The Shadow and says with a fairly thick Scottish accent:
Alistair McLean: He is quite diginabake, but seems awe rite otherwise. His een ur odd, but Ah hink 'at that’s normal fur heem.
The Shadow: Will he be able to compete?
Alistair McLean: He’ll gie intae th' rin' nae problems, if he’ll make it it an' e'en oan top ay th' cage, fa knows, 'at bloke got up frae Nerezza, sae anythin' is possible.
The Shadow: Good. I want you to stay with him to make sure he’ll be in the best shape you can get him in, ok?
Alistair McLean: I'll dae whit Ah can!
The Shadow: Everybody else, come with me, whatever happens, we cannot let Elisha gain control of CWF!
As they file out of Ataxia’s locker room, the camera fades.
Commercial
A family of six is piling out of a van in a strip mall, scanning the big sign of all tenants, most of which seem to be food-related. The kids are whining that they are hungry and the parents are getting more and more desperate. "Got many mouths to feed, but only limited time and money?" Then the mom points at a sign and everybody's expressions brighten immediately. They run across the parking lot in super slow motion and storm into a restaurant. "There is a solution!" Cut to the family sitting at a table with a giant sub in front of them, overloaded with toppings, mayonnaise, sauce, mustard and a lot more oozing out from the sides. "Jumbo portions for jumbo hunger - Bread Zeppelin, home of the Blimp!"
Arrival
A murmuring passes through the crowd. The camera turns and focuses on the front row, as we see three figures making their way gradually through the audience.
Mike Rolash: The hell?
Jim Gunt: Ladies and gentlemen, Elijah, Omega and Eris are currently making their way to ringside, apparently wanting to get a better look at the action here tonight. And after all they've been through, who can blame them?
Mike Rolash: Did they mistake the wasabi for toothpaste on the way over here like I did?
Jim Gunt: No, they...their home got destroyed, their friend -
Mike Rolash: Just saying. That stuff packs a punch.
The three make their way to ringside, Elijah leaning heavily on his cane, clearly relieved to sit down. Eris still carries their backpack, unopened, a few words and leads sticking out. Omega waves at the camera, giving the viewer a coy wink.
Fade.
Triple Threat Tag Team Match
Choronzon & Elisha
Vs.
Caledonia & Jace Valentine
Vs.
John Mapother & Ryan Sunset
Jim Gunt: And the time has come - the battle for CWF, for the Institute and now also the rest of the big book, and it is not just a normal match either!
Mike Rolash: No match that has Elisha in it is a normal match…
Jim Gunt: OK, I have to give you that one.
Mike Rolash: Strrrrike!
Jim Gunt (rolling his eyes): On to Ray Douglas, I think he has some clarification as to what the hell a “Higher, Wire, Fire” match is…
Ray Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen, the next match will be a Higher, Wire, Fire match for the ownership of the Championship Wrestling Federation, control over the Spirit Science Institute and the Book of Beginnings and Endings. The ropes of the ring will be covered in barbed wire, the edges of the apron will be on fire and the grand prize is located high up in the balconies of the arena, so the winner will have to scale the arena to retrieve it to win the match!
Jim Gunt: Holy cow, who comes up with these things??
Ray Douglas: The first team to come to the ring - consisting of CWF’s CEO Ryan Sunset and John Mapother - Team Sunset!
“Sunrise, Sunset” by Bright Eyes starts to play and Ryan Sunset and John Mapother stroll out onto the stage, with some cheers and some boos coming his way, with some people happy he brought Unhinged to Tokyo, while others remember his antics and affiliations. The duo reaches the ring as Marilyn Manson’s “Antichrist Superstar” begins to sound and the boos are deafening.
Ray Douglas: Team number two - consisting of Elisha and Choronzon - Team Elisha!
The Moonchild and his sidekick are stepping through the curtains and Elisha relishes in the reaction from the crowd, drinking in their hatred, which is unusual for Japanese fans, but he seems to have gotten to even the most even-keeled Asians.
Ray Douglas: And finally team number three - consisting of Jace Valentine and Caledonia - Team Rish!
Alkaline Trio’s “We’ve Had Enough” starts to blast through the speakers and the reaction Jace Valentine gets as he comes onto the stage could not be any more mixed. When Caledonia joins him, though, the Japanese fans are on their feet with cheers, which brings a little smile on to her grim, determined face. J. Rish is joining them on the way down, his face a mask of anxiety.
When all three teams are in the ring, stage hands remove the bridge-like structure that enabled them to get across the barbed wire, before the ring edge is set on fire. Suddenly “Sound of Sulfur” by The Bled comes on and all heads swivel to the entrance to see Chaolin Sahn come out.
Ray Douglas: And last to the ring, the official ring enforcer - Chaolin Sahn!
Jim Gunt: What on earth is an “official ring enforcer”?
Mike Rolash: Are you done with your questions for the day?
As soon as the bell rings, Elisha locks up with Ryan, grabbing him by the throat. Jace quickly goes after Mapother, trapping his leg as he attempts a Sharpshooter leg lock in the middle of the flaming ring. Chaolin Sahn circles the outside with a glare, his eyes fixated on the barbed wire circling the ring ropes. Choronzon engages Caledonia, quickly getting the upper hand by raking her across the eyes.
Mike Rolash: And with that, the CWF's first ever 'Higher Wire Fire' match is well underway!
Jim Gunt: I'm still not sure I even understand the rules here. Can we get an explanation one more time?
Mike Rolash: It's not convoluted at all, Jimbo! All you need to know is that the winning team will control it all! The CWF and the Institute! And they'll be signing my pay checks!
Choronzon whips Cali into the corner, stirring up a frenzy from the unrelenting flames. John Mapother rushes across the ring, attempting a clothesline on Elisha but the Moonchild just responds with an evil glare and a vicious heart punch.
Jim Gunt: Mapother goes down!
Mike Rolash: He might be dead, Jim! Ryan really fucked up by choosing him as his partner here!
Jim Gunt: What other choice did he have?
Mike Rolash: What do you mean? Sahn is out here...wouldn't he be better suited for this?
Jace chases after Ryan, the two combatants getting dangerously close to the outside flames surrounding the ring. Caledonia matches punches with Choronzon as J Rish cheers on his team from outside the ring. Sahn sneers at him, but the long time CWF CEO can't seem to contain his excitement.
Mike Rolash: Rish better watch out, or Sahn's gonna kill him like he did Jaiden.
Jim Gunt: Allegedly. Allegedly he killed Jaiden.
Mike Rolash: Allegedly or not, he fucking killed him!
Meanwhile, in the ring, Choronzon has separated himself from Caledonia and is gingerly trying to make his way over the barbed wire and flame death trap that encircles the ring!
Jim Gunt: If Choronzon manages to escape the ring this early, he will have a huge advantage when it comes to scaling the arena and securing that contract for his team!
Almost on cue, Jace Valentine comes racing in as Choronzon scales the turnbuckle. Jace grabs him by the legs and hits a thunderous Powerbomb from the second rope! The Disciple has the back of his head come crashing down hard on the mat. Caledonia wastes no time, mounting Choronzon and unleashing a fury of punches. In the midst of all the chaos, Sunset sneaks behind Valentine and delivers a vile low blow with a smile on his face.
Jim Gunt: Our "boss" stooping to new lows here, I see.
Mike Rolash: Shut up, Jim! He's only doing what it takes to win!
Mapother comes up behind Caledonia, latching on to her neck and pulling her backwards with his full body weight. Just as it seems like Team Ryan is beginning to get the upper hand, Elisha grabs Mapother and delivers a brutal and beautiful Crucifix Powerbomb! The maneuver has such tremendous force that Mapother is driven up and over the wire and fire, spilling outside of the ring in a crash! The crowd responds with a wave of applause, enjoying a good show.
Mike Rolash: Mapother down! Ryan should have picked me to be his partner! I do have an official Golden Intentions elimination after all!
Jim Gunt: I know. Believe me, you remind me every time I come out here to work!
The action continues inside the ring, but now we are down to just five combatants squaring off as Mapother is completely unconscious on the entrance ramp. Elisha seems a little upset with his own momentary lapse in judgment, but he doesn't have much time to think as Jace comes in and lays into him with a knife edged chop. Ryan slinks into the corner, surveying the wreckage and minding the flames.
Jim Gunt: It's pandemonium out here! This match is insane.
Mike Rolash: Pandy Monium? Is that former CWF star Pandalike's brother?
Choronzon attacks the Host with the Most, doing everything he can to protect his prophet and mentor, Elisha. He delivers a swift poke to Jace's eye and the former CWF World Heavyweight champion is down on one knee. Caledonia is working to keep Team Ouroboros from gaining an advantage, as she tries to muster up enough offense to combat both Elisha and Choronzon. Ryan Sunset is still ducked into the corner. Mapother is still downed outside the ring as Sahn is tending to him furiously trying to wake him.
Elisha pulls something from the fold in his wrestling tights that shimmers in the spotlights of the sold out arena. He holds it up in the air triumphantly as the crowd responds with boos.
Jim Gunt: What the hell? Elisha's got a damned knife! And what do you think he's gonna do with that?
Mike Rolash: With any luck, he's going to come over here and slice your tongue out.
Jim Gunt: You're a sick, sick human being.
Mike Rolash: Hey... a man can dream.
Back to the action, it is in fact a blade in Elisha's hand. He motions to Choronzon to keep the downed Caledonia and Jace occupied, as he turns his attention to the barbed wire ring ropes, using the blade to cut away at the encircling structure. Meanwhile, outside the ring, Sahn has Mapother back up on his feet as the artist makes his way up the entrance ramp as quickly as he possibly can.
Mike Rolash: Mapother is up and he's outside of the ring! It's only a matter of time until Sunset runs the CWF, the Institute AND the world!
Choronzon lays stiff right hands into the members of Team Calentine as J Rish has a clear look of concern on his face. He tries to fire the crowd up, and will his competitors back into the match, but it doesn't seem to be doing much good. Elisha has the rope on the one side of the ring completely removed, as he uses the thick barbed wire as a vicious whip. It slams hard into the back of Caledonia and then Jace, nearly ripping flesh from bone.
Jim Gunt: This is disgusting!
Mike Rolash: Blood and barbed wire, baby! I love it!
The Moonchild flashes a wild smile at Ryan who is filled with the expression of someone who is fearing for their life. The barbed wire whip lashes out at Ryan once, twice, thrice. The 'Prince' is writhing in pain in the middle of the ring, but Mapother is long gone and inevitably getting closer and closer to the balcony and the ultimate prize at stake.
Jim Gunt: The combatants better start scaling their way up the arena, or Mapother is gonna steal this one!
Choronzon and Elisha begin to make their way out of the ring, using the side where the rope is removed to their advantage.
Rish runs over, a desperate attempt to heed them off, but is greeted by a particularly brutal clothesline from Sahn himself. The head of the CWF CEO cascades hard off the surface below!
Jim Gunt: Chaolin just about took his head off there!
Mike Rolash: It serves him right! He shouldn't be out here involved in this match!
Jim Gunt: And Sahn should be?
Mike Rolash: He's the special guest Ring Enforcer. Of course he's gotta be here, ya dummy.
Suddenly, a spotlight is shown in the crowd as Mapother is seen in the second level of the arena's seating area. He is desperately and frantically trying to make his way up to secure the win before someone is able to cut him off. Fans work in unison to try to block his path, doing whatever they can to save the CWF they know and love.
Jim Gunt: This is incredible! Even the sold out CWF crowd knows how big this match is!
Mike Rolash: If they didn't know how big of an event this was going to be, then they wouldn't be here, ya dumb fuck!
Jim Gunt: Oh stop.
Mike Rolash: No, you stop! It's like every time you open your mouth you are determined to set a new Guinness record for stupidity!
Elisha and Choronzon are now outside of the ring as Jace, Ryan and Caledonia are decimated inside the ring. Elisha instructs Choronzon to take care of Mapother, as the Moonchild himself begins to dig under the ring.
Jim Gunt: What in the world could he be looking for under there?
Mike Rolash: It's a 'Higher, Wire, Fire' match. So naturally, he's looking for a pair of pliers!
Jim Gunt: What?
Mike Rolash: Maybe a tire?
Jim Gunt: You're hopeless.
Mike Rolash: Sahn was rhyming earlier. Gave me inspiration...
Elisha whips a ladder out from under the ring, pushing it towards the Chosen Leader, Choronzon. The words "use this" can be read from Elisha's lips. He reaches under the ring again, this time pulling out a steel baseball bat that is entwined with thick and vicious barbed wire. He lets out a primal scream and points the weapon at Ryan who is still stranded in the ring.
Mike Rolash: And just what do you think he plans on doing with that?
Jim Gunt: He plans on inflicting some well deserved pain!
The Moonchild runs his finger tips down the metal, smiling as it pricks the skin a little, a trickle of blood starting to flow. He inexplicably makes his way back over the outside flame and back in the ring, hell bent on nothing but delivering Ryan some old-fashioned punishment.
Ryan begs and pleads for Elisha to relent, but he's having none of it. Elisha turns to Ryan, booting him in the stomach once, twice, three times. Elisha raises the bat high in the air, preparing to bring it down on Ryan's skull.
At the last moment, Chaolin Sahn appears from outside of the ring, grabbing the bat out of Elisha’s hand! He grips tight around the wide end of the bat, the barbs piercing into the flesh of the Tormented Soul's hand without even a flinch.
Jim Gunt: Sahn! God damnit! That is incredible...and turns my stomach a little bit.
Mike Rolash: You saying you wish he'd made contact with Ryan? You're one bloodthirsty fucker, you know that?
Jim Gunt: Didn't you see? Ryan sent out a memo today. Budget cuts, no pay raise for non-wrestling on-air talent. Including us.
Mike Rolash: LACERATE THE BASTARD!
Elisha and Sahn get into it, Elisha screaming in Sahn's face, Sahn smirking and saying nothing. Suddenly, Elisha staggers as Ryan attacks him from behind, nailing him in the back of the neck with a set of brass knuckles out of nowhere. Elisha lashes out, shoving Ryan backwards, almost into the open flame. Meanwhile, Caledonia has Jace back up on his feet and they use the distraction as a means to get out of the ring, quickly giving chase to Choronzon and Mapother who are scaling the arena in a race to the top.
Suddenly, Sahn tumbles to the floor as a fist appears from nowhere, striking him in the side of the head. The camera pans to one side to reveal -
Jim Gunt: Cassandra!
She has come through the crowd, quickly jumping up on the turnbuckle and delivering a flying elbow to the Firefly, Sahn. She stands over her fallen adversary now, a former ally, who stares up at her. His face is a contorted mixture of contempt and hatred. He goes to grab the bat, but she moves first, scooping it into the air and bringing it down on his skull in brutal fashion. She turns, throws the bat to Elisha, who catches it with a smile, turning and swinging it at Ryan.
Jim Gunt: This is one brutal fucking match! How many people do you think are ultimately get involved here?
Mike Rolash: Come on, Jim! Watch the language, this is a family show!
Jace and Caledonia have found their own ladders from under the ring, quickly moving to make up ground against Choronzon and especially Mapother who is quickly approaching the top.
Caledonia has managed to catch up to Choronzon now, as they fight their way through the crowd. He nails her with a forearm to the side of the head, sending her reeling; before he can follow up, she trips him, sending him stumbling to the floor.
Cali rises to her feet, grabbing Choronzon by the hair and dragging him up. They force their way through the fans, moving up flights of stairs going up the arena.
As they reach a balcony, Choronzon begins to fight back, hitting Caledonia in the stomach with a series of fists. Cali struggles, releasing her grip, freeing him to nail her in the stomach with a boot and a DDT.
Choronzon grabs Caledonia, pulling her uptight. He grabs her by the face, screaming obscenities at her, before raising a hand to slap her. She grabs him by the wrist at the last moment, halting him, booting him in the stomach and sending him tumbling backwards toward the balcony. The audience gasps, bit he is able to stop himself on the guard rail.
Jim Gunt: Good god! If he falls -
Mike Rolash: I'll crack open the sake.
Jim Gunt: Are you serious? The kid’s 18!
Mike Rolash: I am aware of this. Snivelling little shit.
Caledonia charges towards Choronzon, going for a clothesline to send him tumbling over the guard rail and down to the concrete below. He ducks, using her momentum against her, hitting her with a backdrop that sends her over!
The crowd gasp. Caledonia grabs onto the guardrail to stop her fall, perching unsteadily on the edge of the balcony.
Jim Gunt: Holy shit!
Choronzon smirks, reaching back and nailing Caledonia with a fist to the side of the head. She stumbles, nearly losing her footing, arms clinging to the guard rail for dear life. Choronzon goes to smack her again, but pauses, his attention drawn elsewhere.
Mike Rolash: What the hell?
A few feet away from Choronzon's face hovers a familiar drone, the name ROBBY emblazoned on its side. It rushes towards him, then retreats, taunting the Chosen one. Choronzon lashes out, trying to bat it out of the air to no avail.
Suddenly, a black flag pops out of the top of the drone, two words embroidered on it in red.
TURN AROUND.
Choronzon turns, just in time to catch three more drones as they charge towards him. They hit him square in the chest, the impact sending him stumbling back…
...over the guard rail…
...falling twenty feet to the concrete below!
Mike Rolash: Oh my God!
We cut to ringside, where Eris sits, controller in hand, backpack open and empty at their feet. They wave at the camera. We cut back to the balcony, Caledonia now on the audience side of the guard rail. She looks into the camera and mouths “thank you”.
Jim Gunt: Choronzon has been completely removed from the match, and the rest of the competitors are getting ever closer to claiming the Book of Beginning and Endings for themselves!
John Mapother is now on the highest balcony, only a few yards away from victory as he's finally found his way to the goal point. Jace races up a nearby ladder, cutting him off at the knick of time with a kick to the gut and a Heartbreaker pedigree. He pulls a pair of handcuffs out of his pocket, slipping them over Mapother's wrist and the other end over a nearby guard rail.
He doesn't notice, however, Ryan Sunset coming up behind him with a flaming steel chair, and it connects square with the Face of the Jace that runs the Place! Valentine goes crashing into the pavement, all four remaining superstars now jockeying for positioning to claim the ultimate prize.
Jim Gunt: This match may never end!
Elisha clobbers Ryan with a spinning back fist. Caledonia flies in and provides a double clothesline as the crowd lights up in approval.
Meanwhile, back down in the ring, Chaolin Sahn is seen standing with his arms up in a cross. He is stuck in a manic stare, completely focused on the action taking place above on the balcony. He removes his cloak, and the Maker's Mark on his back shines with an unholy glow.
Jim Gunt: What the hell is going on here?
With a flash of light, the crowd goes silent and awestruck. A lingering white spirit seems to rise up in the air and make its way to Ryan. The crowd lets out a collective gasp, knowing exactly what is happening here.
Jim Gunt: The Tormented Soul...the Maker of Creation. Is it possible the prophecy could be true?
Mike Rolash: Of course it is, Jim! Was there ever any doubt?
Jim Gunt: What does this mean for Caledonia, Jace and Elisha up there?
Mike Rolash: It means they're straight up fucked!
Elisha doesn't seem to pick up on the Soul's presence however, and has his attention preoccupied on Cali. He unleashes some offense, but Sunset grabs him and hits a brutal Chaos and the Crown Cross Powerbomb putting Elisha through a nearby table! Ryan lets out a primal howl, the culmination of his life's work unfolding before his very eyes.
Mike Rolash: Now Elisha's dead, just like the rest of 'em!
Caledonia is teetering on the edge of both the balcony and consciousness now, as Ryan picks the flaming steel chair back up from the concrete floor. He sizes her up, intent on a home run shot that will have her landing somewhere in the masses of people huddled underneath.
Ryan swings, and connects...with a diving Jace Valentine! Jace, at the last possible moment, pushes Caledonia out of the way and takes the full force of the shot and takes a sickening fall several hundred feet down into the sold out CWF crowd!
Jim Gunt: Oh my God! I guess that shows where Jace's loyalty truly lied throughout this whole ordeal!
Mike Rolash: Aaaand now he's dead too. It's a shame everyone in this match has gotta die!
Jim Gunt: Have some damn respect, Mike!
In the midst of the chaos, an exhausted Caledonia knows exactly what she has to do. She scrapes and claws her way over to where the Book sits, and grabs a hold of it, officially ending the match and claiming control of both the CWF and the Institute for Team J Rish!
Ray Douglas: And the winners of the Higher, Wire, Fire match, Team Rish -- Jace Valentine and Caledonia!
CWF World Heavyweight Title Match
Mariella Jade Flair ©
Vs.
Jay “Marksman” Mora
Mike Rolash: Well! That was explosive!
Jim Gunt: ... That's all you've got to say? I guess when you checked out the Great Wall of China during our swing through there you said 'I bet that'll keep the neighbors out.' Once more, with feeling, Mike!
Mike Rolash: With everything that just happened, do you really think I'm gonna accidentally offend anyone that might be my boss tomorrow?
Jim Gunt: ... We'll, of course, keep you updated on all new information as it reveals itself.
Mike Rolash: Which will be never.
CUE UP: "Mosh (Instrumental)" by Eminem
Jim Gunt: This is the moment of truth for Jay Mora, Mike. He's won and lost the Paramount Championship in his time in the CWF, but this has always been his goal: the CWF World Title.
Mike Rolash: And to take it away from the hack that robbed him in the Modern Warfare tournament is just icing on the cake.
Jim Gunt: While I won't go so far as to agree with you that Mora was 'robbed,' I will say that that match could've gone either way multiple times, and there but for a bit of good luck or bad luck, Jay Mora could possibly have taken a much different route in the CWF.
The Marksman stops at the top of the entryway, points at the fans with both hands, and "pulls the trigger." When they don't respond to his satisfaction, he looks around with disgust and flips them off - again, with both hands.
Jim Gunt: Disrespect shown to these fans by the challenger; Mora needs to remember that we're visitors in this country.
Mike Rolash: Disrespect shown to the challenger by these fans, Jim! These japs need to remember that they're lucky to have Jay Mora in front of them!
Mora walks slowly to the ring, pulling away from any fan that manages to reach out to touch him. He doesn't look at them, he just pulls away and maintains his trek to the ring, and to his destiny. The Marksman does not take a lap around the ring: he walks right in, passes by Ray Douglas and referee Trent Robbins to climb the turnbuckle. Mora holds his arms out and tilts his head back, as if he's telling the fans to thank him for his presence.
Jim Gunt: I will say this for Jay Mora: he's focused. He's ready for this. If he comes up short in his bid to become the CWF World Champion, it will not be for lack of focus, lack of preparation, or lack of determination.
Mike Rolash: Since Markie comes up short in exactly none of those areas, we'll clearly see a title change tonight.
CUE UP: "Smash the Control Machine" by OTEP
Jim Gunt: THE CHAMP IS HERE!
Mike Rolash: That's a little derivative, isn't it?
Jay Mora continues to trash-talk the fans; all the while, MJ Flair walks out from the back with little pomp or circumstance. She has her head bowed, the hood of her sweatshirt pulled to her eyes, her arms outstretched, and the hint of gold showing from underneath the bottom trim.
Jim Gunt: As much as you're pushing for Mora, as much as you dislike MJ for some reason... the fact remains, Mike, that she's the champion, and Marksman is the one that's under the gun to prove his worth!
Mike Rolash: You've got it backwards, Gunt. Marksman has proven his worth time and time again, while Flair has been hiding in tag and non-title matches. Neither of which, I should remind you, ended with her hand in the air. Add to that the fact that with no DQ and no countout, the champion's advantage is nullified.
Jim Gunt: You make a good point, Mike - but remember, MJ herself demanded that stipulation, and I don't think she'd have done so without a plan.
Mike Rolash: ... You're telling me that you don't think a woman would act irrationally?
Jim Gunt: Say it again, she's almost within earshot.
Mike Rolash: ...
Jim Gunt: I thought so.
Circling the ring, MJ abandons her typical entrance of climbing the turnbuckle, in favor of keeping her eyes on her opponent. She slides under the bottom rope and immediately comes up on her knees, hands up and ready. When Mora does not move in for a preemptive attack (in part, because the referee was demanding his attention), she rolls back to her feet and stands up, stepping anxiously from one foot to the next in anticipation.
Ray Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen, this next contest is a TOKYO STREET FIGHT, scheduled for one fall with a sixty minute time limit!
He pauses, in part for dramatic purposes, and in part to allow the translator to catch up.
Ray Douglas: The official for this match will be CWF Head Referee Trent Robbins.
Trent waves to the crowd, who give a nice greeting.
Ray Douglas: And introducing first, to my left, is the challenger! Weighing in at two hundred and fifteen pounds, and hailing from Chicago, Illinois, USA... THE MARKSMAN... JAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAA!!!!!
Mora raises both fists in pre-emptive victory as Douglas drags his name. The fans give him a nice enough ovation, that he quickly sours with some explicit hand gestures. Amidst the boos, Mora takes a step towards MJ and gestures around his waist, pointing at hers.
Jim Gunt: Marksman making friends here in the Tokyo Dome.
Mike Rolash: Friends are overrated. Mora wins the title, he can buy some more.
Ray Douglas: And his opponent...
The fans start to cheer already, including a chant of the Champion's initials. She unzips her hoodie and holds up her right hand, acknowledging her appreciation.
Ray Douglas: Weighing in at one hundred and thirty five pounds... from Warwick, New York, USA... The Current. Reigning. CWF. WORLD. HEAVYWEIGHT. CHAMPION...
Mike Rolash: I still want to know how a buck thirty five counts as a heavyweight.
Ray Douglas: EMMM! JAY! FLAAAAAAAAAAAAIRRRRRRR!!!!!!!
In one motion, MJ snaps her head up, sending her hood backwards, unhooks the title belt from around her waist and holds it up in the air. The fans massively cheer at this sequence, while a close up of Mora shows him rolling his eyes.
Jim Gunt: MJ and Mora come to the middle of the ring, and Robbins giving them instructions.
Mike Rolash: What the hell kind of instructions come from a no holds barred match? 'Remember, killing each other would be bad publicity, but also I am literally useless here except for my ability to count to three'?
Jim Gunt: I can't say, but it was probably something along the lines of 'I'm not afraid to stop the match if I have to.'
The bell rings, MJF folds up the title belt, looks at it closely, kisses it, and hands it to the referee. He holds it high above his head to a huge roar, and the Champion and her challenger circle each other like sharks.
Jim Gunt: MJ and Mora lock up, and Mora backs her into the corner! No count, no DQ, so he's leaning her back! Slap to the face, and you know that's deliberate!
Mike Rolash: As opposed to accidental?
Pushed back against the top turnbuckle, MJ is able to wedge a leg between her and Mora, and she kicks him off. He stumbles back a few steps but does not go down - it's just enough for the Champion to catch a breather. They circle again, and Mora muscles MJ backwards, lifts her, and tosses her across the ring! The Champion skids into the corner on her ass and braces herself on the ropes. She looks up at the challenger, who sneers at her and pulls the trigger at her once again.
Jim Gunt: Lots of confidence coming from the challenger! Too much, though, could be a costly mistake!
Mike Rolash: He's got every reason in the world to be confident, Jim.
MJ climbs back to her feet and the two circle. Once again, they lock up, and this time, Mora powers her into the ropes. He pulls back and whips her across the ring, and fires a clothesline – Flair ducks! She rebounds, and when Mora steps towards her, she drops to her knees and drives her shoulder into his stomach! The challenger steps back, gasping for breath, and Flair turns the tables, whipping the Marksman into the ropes! DROP TOE HOLD ON THE REBOUND! MJ puts her boot on the back of Mora's head and smushes him into the mat!
Mike Rolash: She'll pay for that.
Jim Gunt: Marksman rolls up and looks at her – he's got a welt on his forehead from that boot!
MJ pulls the trigger at Marksman, then flips him off with both hands.
Jim Gunt: A bit of a message there, Mike?
Mike Rolash: Absolutely, and it's one she's gonna pay for.
Mora charges Flair, but she sidesteps and knees him in the lower abdomen! Hook of the head, and a DDT! Quick cover,
ONE…
TWO…
Kickout!
Jim Gunt: Mora kicks out! Premature attempt, but you never know!
Mike Rolash: Sometimes you know, Jim. There's no way Marksman is gonna let this chick pin him.
The Champion scoops her challenger and stuns him with an uppercut! His head snaps back, and she continues with a left hand! Another!
Jim Gunt: The Challenger is rocked!
Four punches. Five! Mora is backed into the corner, and MJ fires a sixth – MORA REACHES OUT AND GRABS HER BY THE THROAT! He catches her left wrist with his other, and backs MJ up to the middle of the ring!
Mike Rolash: HAH! How you like no DQ now, bitch?
The referee moves towards the two, but looks on helplessly as he does not have the power to break up the hold: all he can do is continually ask the Champion if she submits. She is red faced, and starting to turn purple, but the fact that she is able to squeeze out a 'NO!' tells him that she is still getting some breath, and is therefore okay to continue. She is still struggling as best she can, but Mora is – quite literally – choking the fight right out of her as she falls to her knees.
Jim Gunt: I think Robbins needs to exercise a certain amount of discretion here, Mike – we've seen the depths of MJ Flair's stubbornness since she first debuted, and Robbins will need to make sure that he stops the match before any permanent damage is suffered.
Mike Rolash: Permanent damage? Bring it on! Marksman told her he'd end her career, and maybe her life! Flick of the wrist, Mora! Do it!
With a surprising amount of strength, MJ wrests her wrist free from Mora's grip and gets both hands to his hand on her throat, and while she's unable to remove him – especially now, that he's choking her down with both hands – she is able to loosen his grip JUUUUST enough to take a long, ragged breath. She gets one foot on the mat as a brace, and Mora pushes backwards, attempting to compress her lungs as well.
Jim Gunt: We've got ourselves a Mexican standoff, Mike!
Mike Rolash: If he can't get her to give up, he's gonna have to take other plans. But how much fight could Flair have left?
It appears that Mora realizes as well that they are at an impasse, and he reverses course, lifting MJ up by the throat! He looks out into the crowd, and hurls her over the top rope by the neck! MJ manages to hold onto the top rope and barely avoids the floor, but she's kneeling on the ring apron, sucking in as much air as she can! Mora off the opposite ropes, and a shoulderblock sends MJ flying onto the commentary table! An audible crack is heard, but nothing breaks!
Mike Rolash: Hey! You spilled my Diet Pepsi!
Jim Gunt: I think she's got more pressing matters to attend to, Mike!
Mike Rolash: Pressing, my ass! She owes me four hundred bucks!
Jim Gunt: You paid four hundred yen for that drink, Mike – that's the equivalent of like three dollars and seventy five cents.
Mike Rolash: I don't care, I want my money!
While Flair may have normally had a biting comeback to Mike Rolash, she certainly did have other things on her mind. She rolls off the table slowly, a large bruise already forming on her upper arm – even more noticeable against her pale skin – and her eyes are dancing about as if they're having trouble focusing. No sooner does she push off the table completely, than Marksman comes off the ring apron with a flying clothesline that puts her back down on the floor! He stands up and raises his arms, and the crowd responds by chanting MJ's initials.
Jim Gunt: Mora making some familiar moves, he's pulling up the floor mats!
Mike Rolash: This time, he can just drop her again and again and again, and it'll be glorious.
Marksman grabs MJ by the hair and drags her over to the exposed floor and sets her up for a powerbomb, much to the disapproval of the fans.
Jim Gunt: He's got her hooked... MJ GRABS HIM AROUND THE WAIST! BACKDROP ONTO THE CONCRETE!
Mora grunts in pain as the air is driven out of his lungs, but MJ sinks back to her knees, unable to follow up.
Mike Rolash: She's only putting off the inevitable.
Even after the impact, Marksman is the first one to rise to his feet. He moves stiffly at first after the blow to his back, but he takes an extra second to walk it off, always keeping his opponent in sight. Before MJ can react, Mora hooks her from behind, drags her to her feet, and belly to back suplexes her against the ring steps! Her head and shoulders hit with an audible CLANG as he drops to make the cover!
Mike Rolash: One, two, three! What's the problem?
Jim Gunt: Trent Robbins telling Jay Mora that no, he has to attempt the pinfall in the ring!
Mike Rolash: That's a dumbass rule!
Jim Gunt: No DQ, no countout, Mike! Never said falls count anywhere!
Annoyed, Mora takes a second to drive his boot into MJ's stomach before he roughly scoops her and sends her back into the ring. Marksman quickly follows and hooks the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
TH-KICKOUT!
Mora pounds the mat in frustration and holds up three fingers, but Robbins insists that it was only two. He shakes his head and turns his attention to the corner, where he roughly rips the turnbuckle pad loose!
Jim Gunt: Is that necessary?
Mike Rolash: Everything is necessary when the World Title is on the line!
Marksman returns to his opponent and scoops her up, and he whips her into the corner! He runs at her and sandwiches her against the exposed steel! MJ slumps, only on her feet because she's on the ropes. Snapmare, and another cover!
ONE…
TWO…
THR- KICKOUT!
Jim Gunt: What'll it take to put MJ down?
Mike Rolash: A lot of punches and a little time.
Jim Gunt: That hasn't worked so far!
Mike Rolash: A little more time.
Marksman shakes his head as he pushes past the referee and climbs the corner. He looks down at MJ and jumps off with an elbow drop! Cover!
ONE…
TWO…
THRE- KICKOUT!
Jim Gunt: The frustration clearly evident on Mora's face, and he needs to be very careful here! He loses his composure, he could make a costly mistake!
Mike Rolash: The only mistake he's made so far is he hasn't murdered her.
Maybe he's listening, because Marksman leaves the ring and returns with a steel chair and a third round of solid boos. He doesn't hit Flair, though: he drops the chair in the middle of the ring and scoops her.
Mike Rolash: Don't get complicated, Markie! Just hit her!
Irish whip, and Mora grabs Flair on the rebound and hits her with a spinebuster on that chair! Cover!
ONE…
TWO…
THRE- KICKOUT!
Mora pounds the mat with his fist again!
Jim Gunt: And the Champion still refuses to give!
Mike Rolash: She'll give, all right – and Markie's gonna take that belt!
The Challenger stands over the Champion and looks down. He wipes the sweat from his face and flicks it on her. The fans again boo this sign of disrespect, but Mora is past listening to them. He leans over to grab MJ by the hair... LOW BLOW BY THE CHAMPION! SMALL PACKAGE!
ONE!
TWO!
THKICKOUT!
He rolls away to avoid any potential follow up, but MJ is clearly not there yet.
Mora wastes no time. He backs up and rushes the Champion, timing his impact for the moment she turns around.
Jim Gunt: BULLSEYE SPEAR! MJ IS FOLDED IN HALF!
Mike Rolash: It's over, Johnny!
Not quite over. Mora's hit was too good: MJ is knocked between the top and middle ropes, and avoids taking the Nestea plunge onto the concrete only by chance of her hooking the middle rope, which spins her around enough to at least land on her hands and knees. Mora raises his arms in victory again and pulls the trigger towards the fans.
Mike Rolash: YES! All right now, get in there, MJ, so you can leave.
Mora crouches in position; he's practically vibrating with nervous energy and excitement over what he clearly sees as his impending victory. He's shit-talking the Champion with every bit of movement he sees, from her first hand touching the apron, to her second, on the bottom rope. The fans continue to chant MJ's initial as she wills herself back to the apron, only for Mora to charge her!
Jim Gunt: MJ DROPS TO HER KNEES! SHOULDER TO THE STOMACH! The Champion hooks Mora's head and stun guns him across the top rope!
Mike Rolash: WHAT THE HELL?
For the first time tonight, Jay Mora is fully stunned. He holds his neck and stumbles backwards a few steps, dropping to his knees. The Champion, however, is unable to follow up. Flair sits on the apron, facing away from the ring, breathing heavy. She keeps looking over her shoulder, but is clearly putting more emphasis on recovery than attack.
With that, Mora stands up and grabs the previously discarded chair, and he storms towards Flair, taking a swing over the top rope!
Jim Gunt: MJ MOVES! Mora's chair hits the side of the apron, and he holds his wrist in pain!
Mike Rolash: Another! Please take another swing, and aim this time!
Before Mora can do so, the split second he uses to grab his shocked wrist is a split second too much. MJ grabs the top of the chair and yanks it down, out of Mora's grip, then fires it up into the Marksman's chin! Mora looks stunned for a moment, staggers back a step or two, and falls back to a seated position. Outside the ring, MJ slides the chair under the bottom rope and follows it in, but Mora kicks it towards her and knocks her off balance! He gets to his feet, unsteady but aware, and bounces off the ropes towards the Champion... MJ WITH A BACK BODY DROP! MORA FLIES OVER THE TOP ROPE AND LANDS ON THE UNPROTECTED FLOOR!
Jim Gunt: What a reversal!
Mike Rolash: What a crock! Get up, Markie!
After the backdrop, MJ collapses to her knees, head down, fist on the mat. She is still breathing heavy, but it looks to be more controlled than before. After a few seconds - and after Mora has started to stir - she lifts her head and rises to her feet to a huge cheer from the fans.
Jim Gunt: For the first time since Jay Mora choked her out, the Champion is on her feet!
Mike Rolash: Tells me she needs another good choking!
MJ grabs the chair and slowly, carefully climbs the turnbuckle. She crouches in order to line up her target, and the second Jay Mora stands up, she leaps! The chair bends over his head, and he hits the floor again! MJ lands hard, but rolls with the impact, and she slowly - but steadily - climbs back to her feet first!
The Champion sends the bent and useless chair to the other side of the ring, while she picks up Mora and sends him back under the bottom rope! The Challenger pushes himself onto his stomach and back up to his hands and knees while MJ follows him directly. She grabs his hair and pulls him up - Thumb to the eyes!
Mike Rolash: And just like that, all is right with the world again!
Jim Gunt: With no DQ in this match you can hardly blame Mora, and he's stopped the Champion's momentum cold! He grabs her by the hair and backs her into the corner! Right hand! Another! Cross corner whip, and MJ hits hard! She staggers out - MARKED SUPERKICK!
Mike Rolash: YES! YES! YES!
Mora drops to his knees and hooks the leg!
ONE...
TWO...
THREE!
KICKOUT!
Mora's eyes go wide as Trent Robbins tells him no, MJ kicked out at the last possible second! He hits the mat again as his frustration builds, and slaps the still - prone MJ in the face! Again! Another cover!
ONE...
TWO...
THREEKICKOUT!
The fans are on the edge of their seat, cheering for every failed pinfall attempt. Mora stands up and gives off a primal scream that shakes the entire arena!
Mike Rolash: How? How did she kick out of that?
Jim Gunt: I don't know, Mike, but this match will continue!
Mora sets himself up behind MJ again as she slowly, unsteadily rises to her knees, and gets a foot on the mat. He waits until just the moment that she turns around and runs at her for a second Bullseye Spear - MJ dodges out of the way! Mora spears between the top and middle turnbuckle and cracks his shoulder on the ring post!
Jim Gunt: Massive momentum shift for the Champion!
MJ scurries away on her knees, using the ropes for leverage, until she sees Mora slowly removing himself from the corner, holding his shoulder with obvious pain etched on his face. She moves in behind him and hooks his head from behind, and pulls him backwards!
Jim Gunt: MJ has Mora set up for the Morning Star! She's -
Mike Rolash: NO! He's muscling her up! I told you, a buck thirty ain't a Heavyweight!
Indeed, Jay Mora is managing to lift MJ Flair from his current precarious predicament, and he's walking her towards the exposed turnbuckle!
Jim Gunt: After all the abuse she's taken, he drives her face into that steel, and it's over!
She is squeezing more and more tightly, but Mora will not be denied. He lines her up, and sprints to the corner... MJ LETS GO OF HIS NECK AND TWISTS HIS BAD SHOULDER! MORA GOES INTO THE EXPOSED STEEL CHEST FIRST!
Jim Gunt: Flair drives Mora's head into the steel once! Twice! Three times! Mora is busted open!
Mike Rolash: Make her pay for it!
Before he can make her pay for it, MJ hooks his head again and drags him to the middle of the ring, and drops down to one knee, locking the Morning Star on once again!
Mike Rolash: She's giving you a free shot, Markie! Take it!
Jim Gunt: He can't! Look!
Indeed, while Jay Mora has the height and weight advantage over the Champion, it currently does him no good. MJ has his head hooked around the neck, she has her knee in the middle of his back, and she's leaning back just enough to keep his feet from getting any real center of balance on the mat. Mora attempts to fight, but the way in which he's hooked, his only free hand is attached to his damaged shoulder.
Jim Gunt: Marksman is holding on for dear life, but so is Flair!
The fans' rise in volume as they see an inevitability. Everyone in the arena seems to see the inevitability, except for Jay Mora, as his struggle continues.
Finally, he takes the only action he can.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Jim Gunt: SHE DID IT!
The bell rings, and the roof blows off the Tokyo Dome. Robbins gets MJ's attention and cautions her to let go, which she does, and both athletes collapse to the mat, with the exception of the hand that Robbins is holding up.
Ray Douglas: Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this match as the result of a submission... AND STILL CWF WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION... EMM JAY... FLAIR!!!
Douglas hands the World Title belt to MJ, who slings it over her shoulder and allows the referee to raise her hand once again. Across the ring from her, Jay Mora finally climbs back to his feet, and they stare each other down.
Jim Gunt: This was a hard fought victory for MJ, one that could've gone either way multiple times. Will we see a show of respect from either of them?
MJ does not blink; she holds the title belt over her shoulder with one hand and has the other prepared to defend herself. Mora stares at her for several long seconds, before he spits on the mat in front of her and walks away to a massive chorus of boos.
Mike Rolash: You were asking?
Jim Gunt: I was hoping, though I'm not surprised. Jay Mora leaves the ring and he's heading up the aisle, while MJ Flair climbs each corner to thank the fans for coming tonight - but she'd better not take too long, because we still have the UNHINGED Cage match coming up!
Mike Rolash: That's right, get outta the ring, toots - we've got a cage to lower... why is she coming over here?
Who's Next?
MJ Flair does, in fact, walk right over to the commentary table. She leans over between the two, getting right in Mike Rolash's personal space with her battered, bruised, and sweaty body, and takes a bottle of water from the cooler under the desk.
Jim Gunt: Congratulations on the successful defense, MJ!
Mike Rolash: Yeah, way to go. Stop sweating on me!
MJF: Thanks, Jim.
Mike Rolash: Isn't it about time you... y'know... went away?
MJ smirks, as she grabs an empty chair from behind the timekeeper's table, sets it up, and sits down next to the commentator table itself.
Mike Rolash: Seriously, leave!
Jim Gunt: I do need to ask, MJ - what are you doing?
MJ looks over at the two.
MJF: It's simple, guys. Whoever wins this match gets a guaranteed title shot at any point in time, under any circumstances they want. It's in my own best interest t'see who wins, up close ‘n personal.
Jim Gunt: That makes sense. Well, congratulations again, MJ... and good luck!
Mike Rolash: And you owe me another Diet Pepsi!
Commercial
A woman is coming out of the shower, towel on the head, towel wrapped around her body. Her husband comes in and gives her a hug, but as he comes closer he wrinkles his nose in disgust. The woman is looking both shocked and apologetic, frantically trying to find something in the cabinet above the sink. Finally she pulls out a can and generously applies it to her underarms. She beckons her husband to come closer and a big smile comes to his face as he gives her a long, tight hug. "Wet Dog Odorant - when you want to feel really special!
Greet The Dawn
We cut backstage. J. Rish is in an office space set aside for the purpose, throwing Ryan’s possessions - a copy of Amorality, a metal sculpture of the Maker's Mark - in a garbage bag. He opens an office drawer, pulls out a stack of papers, puts them to one side. Reaches back in to reveal a hip flask.
J. Rish: Oh Ryan. Ever so predictable.
Rish opens the flask, taking a deep sip. Before he can get back to work, the office door slams open,revealing Elijah and Omega. Rish groans.
J. Rish: Look, if you've come here to -
Elijah: What the FUCK do you think you're doing?
J. Rish: Look, just let me explain -
Elijah: No!
Elijah shoves Rish, sending him stumbling back, landing on an office chair. Omega leaps behind him, pulling out a roll of duct tape and taping his wrists to the chair's arms.
Elijah: Are you really that vain? That conceited and short sighted? You have NO IDEA what the Institute is capable of, and you have NO IDEA what you have just unleashed!
J. Rish: I -
Elijah: SHUT UP! We trusted you! You remember that night, Hellbound, the night Elisha made his grand return? We stood side by side against the Eternals and WE TRUSTED YOU!
J. Rish: I don't think you're in a position to lecture anyone about trust.
Omega: Fuck you!
Elijah: You have no idea what you've done. But you will.
He reaches into his pocket, withdrawing a small plastic baggie. Inside it is a single white pill. Rish looks at it, his eyes wide.
J. Rish: Are you going to -
Elijah: Kill you? No. This is a psychedelic, an entheogen if you prefer. It brings about altered states of consciousness. This one was created specially for the occasion - an occasion we hoped would be we come.
Rish starts to struggle. Omega grabs his head firmly, arm wrapped round his neck.
J. Rish: What does it do?
Elijah: Show you the consequences of your actions.
Elijah punches Rish in the stomach. As he opens his mouth, struggling to breathe, Elijah forces the tablet in, shoving his jaw shut. Rish swallows involuntarily.
The camera fades to black as Rish struggles against his restraints. Elijah leans in close, speaking softly in his ear.
Elijah: See you in three hundred years.
Fade.
Unhinged Triple Cage Briefcase Match
Amber Ryan
Vs.
Ataxia/Dorian Hawkhurst
vs.
Duce Jones
vs.
Nerezza
Vs.
The Shadow
Jim Gunt: Now this is creepy, Elijah trying to poison Rish!?
Mike Rolash: That guy sounds like he has popped a few pills before this show, too, what is he talking about ‘See you in three hundred years’??
Jim Gunt: I guess we will have to wait and see, but we don’t have much time for speculations, because the big one is coming!
Mike Rolash: Oh yes, I forgot we still have another match here!
Jim Gunt: My god Mike, look at this ungodly structure that is coming down across the five gladiators standing in the ring just waiting for that bell to wage war. This is going to be a car wreck!
Mike Rolash: And only the best kind, a five person, multi-car pile up on the intersection...baybee!
Jim Gunt: I would ask how a multiple vehicle car accident can be considered the “best kind”, but I hate to hear what you would come with for an answer. Instead I’ll turn our attention into the ring where Trent Robbins has the incredibly daunting task of officiating this contest.
Mike Rolash: What is so daunting about it, Jimbo? There are no pinfalls or submissions, and anything goes! Trent may as well take the night off and sit back and relax with us for awhile, because all he has to do is call for the bell when one of these maniacs climbs three stories to retrieve that Unhinged briefcase!
Ray Douglas: The following match is tonight’s co main event! We will have three cages, five competitors, and only one of them will become CWF’s very first Unhinged briefcase holder! To do so they must climb to the third cage and pull down the briefcase that then awards them the chance at a World Title match for any time of their choosing up to a year.
“Die Die Die My Darling” by Metallica plays over the speakers and Ataxia makes his way out from behind the curtain, his head to the side as he looks through the mask at the cage in front of him. The Forsaken member slowly enters through the cage.
Ray Douglas: Introducing first...from unknown….ATAXIA!!
Lights go out. "Mea Culpa" by After Forever starts with its ominous keyboard sounds. As the choir sets in, fog starts to waft around the ring, illuminated only with dark, purple light, the ring itself is dark. As the choirs reach their crescendo, the purple light flickers with rising intensity and as the choir stops, the lights go back on and The Shadow stands in the centre of the ring, stoic and unmoving under his hood. The steel cage surrounding both members of the Forsaken.
Ray Douglas: And his partner in crime and tonight his opponent….THE SHADOW!!
It’s the tinkling of the eerie music box that brings the lights down, the crowd murmuring with anticipation, as slowly and silently the big screens seems to crack one by one as shadows to dance across the shattered surfaces.
"You know I heard I don't belong in this game
Still you hold your hands in the air screaming my name
Let's go!"
Lights pulsate in red like an erratic heartbeat as Maria Brinks vocals finally signify the arrival of the silhouetted redhead.
"Baby go ahead
I'll be your hatred and your pain
This is killing us all
I don't care if I fall
We're the dying, we are the damned."
Amber's pretense draws a loud cheer from the Japanese crowd. Roaring guitar leads Amber down the ramp as few fans extend hands but receive little acknowledgement for their efforts. She circles the caged ring before entering slowly.
Climbing the turnbuckle left handed, she watches out over the crowd to gauge the reaction, returning the reaction with an acknowledging nod of her own before somewhat turning awkwardly on the spot and taking a seat upon the top turnbuckle with hands clasped and elbows resting on her knees- that familiar Distorted Angel smirk ever present across her face as she looks out at two of her four opponents.
Ray Douglas: And the third of five competitors in this matchup, from Atlantic City, New Jersey….AMBER RYAN!!
Dimmu Borgir’s “Progenies of the Great Apocalypse” plays over the speaker system and Nerezza makes his way out from the back, stalking as he slowly comes down and goes through the cage.
Ray Douglas: And from Brooklyn, New York….NEREZZA!!
The lights in the arena dim, as orange strobe lights move all across the venue.."Smiling Faces" by Kevin Gates is blasting throughout the PA system as Duce Jones out onto the stage. The fans cheer with admiration as he stands there and surveys the crowd.. He then strolls down to the ring slapping the hands of some of the fans who are sitting ringside. Duce makes it down to the cage where he enters and hops onto the apron and climbs inside the ring. He sprints to the nearest corner and climbs to the second rope and begins looking into the crowd once again. Duce climbs down from the corner, turns around, and waits for the bell to ring.
Ray Douglas: And finally, from Jonesboro, Arkansas….DUCE JONES!!
The massive triple cage structure slowly emcompasses the five men and woman in the squared circle, each of them looking up at around at their surroundings in absolute awe. With a small thud the cage comes over the ropes and makes its way down to the floor, falling into place perfectly. The head CWF official makes one last round across the ring, making sure that all five competitors know just what they are getting themselves into tonight. Finally Robbins calls for the bell, and the Japanese fans give a polite clap as the match is underway.
Jim Gunt: Here we go, Mike! The triple cage has not been seen in Championship Wrestling Federation since the old school 2009-2011 days, when it used to be a Hellbound ppv staple. But now we have completely revamped the match, adding weaponry to the second cage and of course the very first Unhinged briefcase hung atop the third!
Mike Rolash: And would you look at the competitors in the ring! Neither of the five are making their first moves right away, each of them calculating the correct time to strike. This one is sure to be a classic!
Jim Gunt: You’re damn right. And after the unbelievable night we’ve already had here tonight, it’s hard to believe that this pay per view can get any better. But I would bet my house that it does just that!
Pulling his Forsaken stablemate over to him by his shoulder, Ataxia talks as much strategy to the Shadow as he possibly can with the scrambled eggs of a brain he has left in his mind after the horrific ladder match with Hawkhurst earlier in the night. Before the two of them can collect themselves to go into attack mode however, Duce Jones does just that, zipping across the ring like a rubber band, snapping both Ataxia and the Shadow with a foot a piece.
Jim Gunt: What a huge dropkick to both of the members of Forsaken!
Jones somehow lands on his feet out of the dropkick, backflipping over perfectly. But Nerezza has him from behind, pulling the head of the man he has both teamed and went to war with the past several weeks, and connecting with an assault of nasty forearms to his upper chest! The Kid That Never Dies pulls up, busting his own head nearly in half as he collides with a headbutt to the fragmented face of Nerezza. And a line of blood squirts out onto the face of Jones, leaving the Japanese fans quiet as they are both horrified and respectful of the action at the same time.
Duce Jones grabs onto the arm of Nerezza, whipping him hard into Ataxia and the Shadow in the corner. But it is now Amber Ryan who finally decides to step forward out of her corner, leaping up as she grabs Jones’s head out of mid-air, her feet walking across the ropes and back down like a cat. TORNADO DDT! The Painted Hurricane raises her hands in the air to a brief cheer from the crowd after getting to her feet, quickly turning her attention to the approaching Nerezza. The bleeding freak is practically frothing at the mouth as he grabs for her, yanking Amber into a painful headlock. But the two-headed monster that is the Forsaken come as one as Ataxia mounts the shoulders of the Shadow. The Messiah Pariah holds onto the shoulder of the Shadow momentarily and then dives over, front flipping twice right into a cannonball that sends both Ryan and Nerezza flying like bowling pins!
Jim Gunt: Oh my! The action is getting hot and heavy already, wouldn’t you say, Mike?
Mike Rolash: Hot and heavy, with people like Amber Ryan, Nerezza, Ataxia, the Shadow and Duce Jones? Sounds like one freaky skin flick to me!
Jim Gunt: You wouldn’t go there, wouldn’t you? Anyway, back in the ring we have the only two men left standing about to square off. The Shadow vs. Duce Jones, what a one on one match-up that would be!
Duce looks absolutely possessed as he stands toe to toe with the man from the beginning of time. Although the Shadow holds the slight weight and height advantage, it is the the original version of Jones who strikes first with a European uppercut. The attack seems to barely phase the Shadow though as he comes right back with an uppercut of his own. And now the former CWF World champion with another uppercut, and the Shadow with a second one of his own, dropping Jones to a knee!
The crowd shows support with a brief clap, but quickly quiet themselves to watch on intently as Ataxia joins the Shadow in the fight against Duce Jones, driving a shoulder block against his opponent’s chest. The two Forsaken members team up once more, each of them putting an arm around the head of Jones and planting him head-first into the canvas.
Jim Gunt: What a brutal Double DDT from the Forsaken!
Mike Rolash: It sure was, Jimmy. If the brains of ole’ Ducey weren’t scrambled already, they certainly are now!
Jim Gunt: If Duce Jones’ brain is scrambled, what would yours be then. Hard boiled?
A cackling Messiah Pariah looks down at Duce Jones and then offers his hand to the Shadow for a high five. The Weaver of Dreams contemplates the offering of friendship, even from a man that’s technically his friend, just because of the environment that the two of them have been placed in. Shadow decides to raise his hand up and made the wrong choice, as the deranged Ataxia grabs ahold of it, leaping up to catwalk across the top rope before leaping off to send Shadow spinning to the canvas with a hard arm whip!
While Ataxia slithers away from his “partner” the Shadow, Amber Ryan takes on the massive Nerezza on the other side of the ring. The two former Angels in CWF’s past look far from angelic as they go to war with stinging right hands. The second from Ryan connects hard with the jaw of Nerezza, but the monster hardly wavers, stepping forward and grabbing Ryan right across the throat. The eyes of Amber Ryan go as white as a ghost as Nerezza lifts her high in the air by her neck, not even leaving her a few seconds to even try to kick out of the hold. Instead the former Harley Hodge chucks her without abandonment, right into the steel structure of the first Unhinged cage!
Jim Gunt: Amber Ryan could have a broken back! Someone has to do something about this Nerezza, the guy is an absolute hazard to the wrestlers in the back.
Mike Rolash: A hazard to the wrestlers in the back? The same wrestlers that ridiculed Harley Hodge, said the old man didn’t have anything left in the tank? Those idiots deserve the punishment that Nerezza is bound to bestow upon them.
Jim Gunt: I seem to remember you saying the same things about Harl...
Mike Rolash: Shut up, Jim.
The deep breaths of Nerezza can almost be heard from the audience members sitting in the front row of the Tokyo Dome, the monster seething as he looks out at the somehow rising Amber Ryan. Nerezza goes over the top rope leg by leg, leaping off the apron onto the still half-downed Ryan. Double Axe Handle-NO! Ryan sidesteps and intertwines her legs with Nerezza’s on the way down. RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP TO THE OUTSIDE FLOOR! And Amber holds onto the leg of the psychopath, doing her best to attempt a grapevine leg submission, but the strength of Nerezza is too much as he kicks her away. Duce Jones is against the ropes, setting his target as he moves quickly. ASAI MOONSAULT ON BOTH RYAN AND NEREZZA!
Not to be out done, Ataxia cracks his partner across the jaw with a “friendly” uppercut, shoving him into the corner and turning his eyes to the outside of the ring. The Messiah Pariah comes at full speed, diving through the middle rope. SUICIDE DIVE-NO! Jones sidesteps out of the way and the masked maniac collides head first with the first cage!
Jim Gunt: My lord! Talk about crashing and burning!
Mike Rolash: You’re damn right, I swear that entire structure shook a little bit with the impact of Ataxia’s skull hitting steel!
Duce Jones sees an opportunity when it presents itself to him, quickly making his way over the downed bodies on the outside of the ring to the nearest door out of the cage. But The Shadow is not going to let him go so easily, climbing up to the top rope and hollering out of Jones to turn around. The Weaver of Dreams leaps off and CROSS BODY BLOCKS DUCE RIGHT INTO THE STEEL CAGE! Everyone is down, and the Japanese fans are clearly pleased, as they give out a hearty clap for the non-stop action this evening.
Jim Gunt: I don’t know about you Mike, but I for one have enjoyed this tour of Asia.
Mike Rolash: I bet you have Jim, you fit right in with these nerds!
Jim Gunt: You know we’re live on pay per view, right? I hope these “nerds” eat you alive, and you don’t even make it out of Tokyo.
Mike Rolash: Oh god...do they eat human beings?
Nerezza is the first to come to his feet, raising his body backward to crack his back loudly, growling as he challenges any of his four opponents to get to their feet. It is Ataxia and the Shadow who get up at the same time, once again the two partners looking at each other, contemplating whether they want to come to blows or help each other out. Before they can however, Nerezza runs in and double clotheslines them both, leaving Ataxia flipping over hard landing right onto the Shadow!
Jim Gunt: Holy shit. The power of this Nerezza is impeccable.
Mike Rolash: I know, he’s such an Angel.
Jim Gunt: Oh would you stop…
Delivering painful and deliberate stomps to both the Shadow and Ataxia, Nerezza finally leaves them in the dust and heads for the nearest door to escape the first of the three cages. When as soon as the beast grabs a hold of the handle to escape, he is tapped on the shoulder, and then just as he turns around is blasted in the face by a stiff back elbow from Amber Ryan! Nerezza snears, not showing any effect from the shot, but Ryan doesn’t give up, hitting him with another elbow to the lower jaw. Duce Jones comes from behind and takes a shot at Nerezza himself, and then the two of them team together to send the big man flying with a Hip Toss that connects with the door, swinging it open and leaving Nerezza dumped out onto the floor outside!
Jim Gunt: And we have our first escape from the cages, Mike, just not the way Nerezza would have imagined leaving, I would imagine.
Mike Rolash: It doesn’t matter how you go through the doors, all the matters is who is able to climb up to that third tier and retrieve the briefcase. These five competitors are surely going to put each other through hell to get there, but in the end one of them will become the very FIRST Unhinged Briefcase holder!
Jim Gunt: Indeed, and what an honor that will be. The briefcase holds a contract for what is nearly a guaranteed shot at becoming the World Heavyweight champion, as it allows it’s holder a shot at the current champion at any time of their choosing.
Not wasting any time following the rising Nerezza out of the first tier of the triple cages, Duce Jones hits Amber with a spinning heel kick to subdue her, and then immediately heads for the door himself, pushing it open with a hard swing with his boot, bucking it right into the face of Nerezza! The beast staggers backward, holding onto his face as it reddens by the second. Jones goes to go after him but Ataxia grabs him from behind, REVERSE DDT! It is now the Messiah Pariah who goes to exit the cage, that is until the Shadow turns him around, hitting a picture perfect Tilt-A-Whirl slam on his ally. The Shadow exits the cage, waiting as Nerezza begins to pull himself up to his feet with his hands linked into the cage’s holes. He turns around unexpectedly, right into a Superkick from the Weaver of Dreams!
Jim Gunt: Now we have both Nerezza and the Shadow out of the cages, Mike, they are now the two men with the distinct advantage going forward in this matchup.
Mike Rolash: How can you say that Nerezza has any kind of advantage? Have you seen the guy’s face?
Jim Gunt: I’m just talking about the aesthetics of the match, Mike…
Mike Rolash: You wouldn’t know an aesthetic if it hit you in the face.
Jim Gunt: Aaaannd that makes no sense…
The bulging eyeball of Nerezza looks just as sick as ever as his head jolts back from the impact of the Shadow’s Superkick, but surprisingly the Forsaken member doesn’t seem freaked out, instead deciding to move forward quickly with a pull-in clothesline. Nerezza is not left off his feet, as the Shadow pulls him right back in again, hitting a second and more powerful clothesline! He takes a long look at the massive structure in front of him, placing his right hand and then left on the cage to begin the climb. But before he can even begin Amber Ryan leaps onto his back, using all her might to pull Shadow off the cage and down with a Swinging Neckbreaker!
Jim Gunt: Smart thinking there by the very witty Amber Ryan, pulling the Shadow off before he could make his way up the cages!
Mike Rolash: I’m surprised Amber had the strength to yank Shadow down like that, she must have been drinking the juice lately.
Jim Gunt: ...What is that supposed to mean?
Mike Rolash: You know, steroids?
While Jim rolls his eyes at his broadcast partner’s comments, the action continues to spill outside of the triple cage structure. With Ataxia and Duce Jones then only two competitors left in the cage, the two of them begin fighting it out with back and forth punches to each other, each man trying to get the advantage over the other and leave him in the dust. Finally Jones swings for the fences with a Superman PUN-NO! Ataxia sidesteps and grabs him from behind, german suplex into the turnbuckle. E.R. STAT HITS AND NEARLY BREAKS JONES’ SPINE IN HALF!
The Messiah Pariah cackles as he looks down at Jones in a heap, turning his attention to outside of the ring where Amber Ryan stands with her hands in the air, just calling the masked maniac to battle it out with her. Ataxia goes to do just that, knowing that the Shadow has risen and stands behind Amber Ryan with a growing smile on his face. The Weaver pulls in Amber from behind, easily hoisting her up onto his shoulder as Ataxia rapidly climbs up the first of three steel cages.
Nerezza crawls on his hands and knees away from his opponents, finding an open area on the other side of the cage to freely begin climbing. Ataxia sees him moving but has no choice but continue his progression, that is until he sees Amber pounding down on the head of the Shadow, trying to break free from the proposed Electric Chair Drop. Seeing this the Messiah Pariah turns around and dives off the cage halfway up- DOOMSDAY DEVICE TO AMBER RYAN SENDS HER HURLING INTO THE BARRICADE!
“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”
Jim Gunt: The Messiah Pariah putting life and limb on the line here tonight, but what is truly surprising to me is that Ataxia had a clear advantage being able to climb to the top of the cage with no one to really stop him, and instead decided to help out his stablemate in battle!
Mike Rolash: Yeah but all the meanwhile Nerezza has made his way up the other side of the cage. The Beast is going to win this thing, no one is even paying attention to him!
It’s as if the words of CWF’s absurd color commentary ring into the ears of Duce Jones, as the proverbial light bulb goes off in the mind of the madman, making his way quickly up the first cage but still several feet behind Nerezza. The two former World Heavyweight champions look to be the first to make their way up the first cage, but Nerezza isn’t going to let Duce reach him so easily, stomping away at the hands of the Kid That Never Dies as he reaches the top. Jones wiggles his right hand in pain, barely holding on as he dangles dangerously off the ground. Foaming at the mouth, Nerezza grabs the last hand of Jones- but doesn’t toss him off the cage!? No, instead he pulls him up to the top of the first cage with him. URANAGE SLAM ON THE ROOF OF THE CAGE!
Jim Gunt: Spine-tingling! Back-breaking! Ouch!
Mike Rolash: Very colorful commentary, Jimmy. Keep it up and they’ll permanently replace us with Church and State…
Jim Gunt: Who didn’t see that one coming?
With Duce Jones seemingly in hand, Nerezza takes one quick look down the cage to make sure no one else is coming after him, and then turns around to take a gaze into the second tier of the structure. The former Hodge’s eyes widen as he sees all the weaponry laid out in front of him, and he doesn’t waste a second’s time to grab a hold of the door of the cage, swinging it open to enter. But Jones is back up and behind him, taking that same door and whipping it right back into Nerezza!
Meanwhile on the other side of the cage, the Shadow has begun to make his own ascent as Amber Ryan and Ataxia are more worried about taking each other out of the game. The Painted Hurricane hits a front kick to Ataxia but he returns with a right hand, taking her by the arm and irish whipping her into the wall of the cage. The impact shakes the cage slightly, nearly knocking the Shadow off! He is able to hold on and finish climbing however, just as Duce Jones comes back out of the second cage with a baseball bat covered in barbed wire! The Shadow holds fast just below the top of the cage, watching as Jones begins to carve the face of Nerezza with the barbed wired bat!
Jim Gunt: Oh my GOD! Blood is absolutely pouring out of the face of the deformed former CWF World champion, this is getting disgusting in a hurry!
Mike Rolash: This is exactly what the doctor ordered, Jimmy. Can’t you tell how in awe these Japanese fans are at this match. I mean they’ve been left speechless!
Jim Gunt: That is just how they show respect around here…
Finally deciding to intervene with the action going on at the top of the cage, the Shadow snatches the bat out of Duce Jones hands just as he’s about to take a homerun swing on what’s left of Nerezza’s skull. The Weaver of Dreams takes the bottom of the bat and hits Jones square in the gut, dropping it on the cage and then following it up with a Russian Leg Sweep!
Jim Gunt: Jones hits face first onto the barbed wire bat! Damn!
Mike Rolash: And now ole Ducey Baby is busted open too. This one has become a bloodbath!
Not looking to be outdone, Ataxia grabs a hold of the back of Amber Ryan’s head, spiking her face over and over again at the base of the first cage. She attempts to fight back with an elbow to his extremities, grasping onto the holes to pull herself up the structure. The Shadow makes his way into the second cage and begins going through all the weapons as Amber Ryan is nearly halfway up herself. But the Messiah Pariah is not going to let her go so easily, climbing up after her and punching the back of her knees out. Ataxia places his head under the legs of Ryan- AND DIVES OFF THE CAGE! SIT-OUT POWERBOMB OFF THE FUCKING CAGE WITH NOTHING BUT THIN MATS BELOW!
“HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!”
Jim Gunt: If there was ever any question about the sanity of the Messiah Pariah, that can now be put to rest. This man is absolutely bat poop crazy!
Mike Rolash: Haha, you said poop.
Jim Gunt: And if there was ever any question about the maturity of my broadcast partner, that can now be put to...
Mike Rolash: Oh shut up.
With a selection of weapons to match even the most psycho of serial killers, the Shadow takes a few seconds too long to decide, as a bleeding Nerezza comes from behind him and shoulder blocks him- driving him forward right into a lodged steel chair. The top of the chair catches Shadow in the ribs, leaving him yelling out in both pain and anger, but Nerezza is far from finished. He takes a look behind him, pulling up a sheet of glass and swinging for the fences-NO! Shadow ducks out of the way and the glass shatters on impact of the steel cage!
Jim Gunt: The Shadow was truly a lucky man there, as he just missed being taken out by that glass sheet. Speaking of that glass...it busted pretty easily. Which one of our shoddy sponsors provided those thin sheets of ice, anyway?
Mike Rolash: Not a clue Jimbo, but what I do know is that somehow, someway the Messiah Pariah is making his way up the cage!
Ataxia stares upward as he climbs as quickly as possible, knowing that if he doesn’t soon make his way up to the rest of the competitors that him and Amber Ryan could have the opportunity of a lifetime pass them by. The Shadow places a kick to the side of Nerezza, stopping him from grabbing any other weapons. He goes for another but the Beast catches it- ENZUIGIRI! He rears back and comes forward at full speed- HAMMER OF THE GODS! The dropkick pushes Nerezza right through a wooden table set up in the corner of the second cage!
Jim Gunt: And there they go...through a table!
Mike Rolash: Is there any weapons left in that second cage? God damn!
The broken bodies of both the Shadow and Nerezza lay within the pieces of the wooden table, prone for Duce Jones to pick at their scraps. But Ataxia stops him right in his tracks, turning around and hitting him with a European Uppercut. D-TRIGGA KNEE HITS FLUSH! Ataxia sways back and forth, nearly falling right off the top of the first cage. Instead Jones pulls him into his chest, flipping him through the air right into the second cage with an overhead Belly to Belly Suplex!
Mike Rolash: Speaking of spine-tingling, I’m sure Duce Jones will need one of those Chinese massages after this event is over…
Jim Gunt: We’re in Japan for God’s sakes man. Could you be any more racist?
Mike Rolash: It was unintentional, I swear…
The only man left standing, Duce Jones knows full well that the Unhinged briefcase could very well be right at his fingertips. The Kid That Never Dies leaves his opponents behind, not even looking back as he starts climbing towards the third cage. Just as he gets to the top of the second however it is Amber Ryan who somehow has climbed both the first AND second cage like a freaking catwoman in record time. The Painted Hurricane grabs the left leg of Jones, hitting his knee against the cage.
He turns around, his jaw dropped that she is even still in the match. Jones attempts to kick off Ryan but she will not go, following him all the way to the top of the second cage as he pulls her by the foot. Although the smallest and highest of the three cages is right in front of them, Duce Jones is not able to enter as Amber Ryan pulls his leg sideways and leg whips him down. It is now the Distorted Angel who pulls the door open herself, entering the third cage as the final person to have climbed the cages but the first to enter the final one. She leaps up trying to grab the title, still several feet short of being able to do it. Amber decides quickly to try climbing the inside of the cage instead, doing anything she can do quickly get to the briefcase of dreams. But Jones pulls her off- EYE OF THE HURRICANE!
Jim Gunt: What a neckbreaker off the halfway point of the third cage! It is unbelievable the fortitude of one Amber Ryan, after being Powerbombed off the cage from Ataxia earlier I would have thought she would have been stretchered out of here!
Mike Rolash: She’s a crazy bitch, but her pus...
Jim Gunt: Woah woah woah.
Mike Rolash: What?
Ataxia and the Shadow are side by side as they climb up the second cage, either working together or attempting to go past their stablemate, one would never know as Nerezza stops them both with a shot to their backs with a ladder from within the second tier! The bloody beast spits out crimson as he once again swings the ladder, knocking the Weaver of Dreams off the cage and into a tumble back down to the second!
Ataxia however is able to make it up the cage, hurrying to stop Duce Jones from grabbing onto the briefcase as he has started his own climb up the third cage. Jones reaches out to pull it down, still too far away, and now Ataxia is on him, hitting his skull over and over again against the steel cage! The Messiah Pariah grabs the dreads of Duce, spiking his face one last time and sending him falling to the cage below- and a small section breaks- SENDING DUCE JONES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SECOND CAGE!
Jim Gunt: Are you SERIOUS! A section of that third cage broke leaving Duce Jones in shambles, I hope to god the former World champion is okay after that!
Mike Rolash: He is certainly going to be needing some medical attention, but all five of these competitors may be spending the rest of the night in the hospital after this one!
Jones is unconscious, a ball of broken bones as he lays collapsed down in the second cage. Ataxia is now left alone to grab the briefcase, or at least he thought he was, until Nerezza knocks him off the wall of the third cage as well with the ladder he brought up with him! Ataxia nearly falls through the hole that Jones went through, dangerously holding on as his feet almost slipped down. Choosing to abandon the fight with Ataxia, Nerezza sets up the steel ladder and begins to climb as quickly as he can towards the briefcase. Amber Ryan is heading up the other side of the ladder though!
The Painted Hurricane and the Beast battle back and forth, right hand followed by another right hand, neither competitor looking to let the other take the final advantage. Nerezza finally grabs her by the back of the head, pushing her head forward hard right into the ladder! The Beast flips over Amber Ryan looking for a Sunset Flip Powerbomb- BUT SHE HOLDS ONTO THE LADDER! NEREZZA GOES THROUGH THE HOLE LANDING RIGHT ON DUCE JONES! The sold out crowd in Tokyo Dome actually rise to their feet this time, clapping wildly as Jones and Nerezza lay unconscious. And Amber Ryan takes one last look at her lifelong dream now made reality, grabbing the Unhinged Briefcase and pulling it down!
The crowd goes wild, clapping as the bell sounds!
Ray Douglas: Your winner of the very first Unhinged Briefcase Match….AMBER RYAN!!
Streamers begin to come down from the top of the Tokyo Dome, some of them landing through the cracks of the cage and some just draping over the cheering audience. Amber Ryan, the veteran of CWF, one of the very best in the company’s history to never have won the World Heavyweight Title. Now she has the chance to do just that, at her own leisure. Amber climbs down the ladder slowly, nearly in tears as she looks down at the briefcase. The Painted Hurricane raises the briefcase up to one last cheer as Unhinged goes off the air.